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Word Gems
exploring self-realization, sacred personhood, and full humanity
Editor’s collection of notes:
Algebra
What is a term?
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an algebraic "word" in the problem-solving dialogue
numbers, variables, or combo added or subtracted
x + 3 + 2 - 72 is an expression (phrase) composed of terms, literal and numeric monomial, expression of one term: x; binomial, expression of two terms: x + 1; polynomial, expression of many terms
term: to call or name
parts of an expression separated by addition; multiplication creates a single term
a math expression made up of 2 parts, a number part (coefficient) and a variable part, which are multiplied together
you cannot add or subtract unlike terms - need the same name!! - we cannot add apples and oranges in a direct manner but must first give them new common names, "terms," such as things or fruit.
We use algebra to solve for an unknown, that is, when we have incomplete information and we're trying to find out the missing parts; therefore, in order to address, to speak about, the problem, we arrange what we know and don't know as single-item "words" (terms) and "phrases" (expressions) and "sentences" (statements) with which we might structure the issue, or begin to formulate the data into a complete thought of problem solving.
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