Math Helper

Review your basic math operations. To start learning algebra, you'll need to know basic math skills such as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing. This primary/elementary school math is essential before you start learning algebra. If you don't have these skills mastered, it will be tricky to tackle the more complex concepts taught in algebra.

You don't necessarily need to be great at doing these basic operations in your head to do algebra problems. Many algebra classes will allow you to use a calculator to save time when doing these simple operations. You should, however, at least know how to do these operations without a calculator for when you aren't allowed to use one.

Look for symbols that aren't numbers. In algebra, you'll start to see letters and symbols appear in your math problems, rather than just numbers. These are called variables. Variables aren't as confusing as they may first seem - they're just ways of showing numbers with unknown values. Below are just a few common examples of variables in algebra:

Letters like x, y, z, a, b, and c
Greek letters like theta, or θ
Note that not all symbols are unknown variables. For instance, pi, or π, is always equal to about 3.14159(Pie Math).

Try to get the variable by itself in algebra equations. Solving an equation in algebra usually means finding out what the variable is. Algebra equations are usually set up with numbers and/or variables on both sides, like this: x + 2 = 9 × 4. To figure out what the variable is, you need to get it by itself on one side of the equals sign. Whatever is left on the other side of the equals sign is your answer.

An exponent, also called a power or index, is a number that tells you how much to multiply a base number. To solve an addition sentence that includes exponents, you must know how to find the value of the individual exponential expressions, either by hand or by using a calculator. When adding variables with exponents, you must be aware of certain rules for combining like terms.