Featured Videos
Quadratic Equations
How to Use FOIL to Distribute Two Binomials (Video)
In algebra, variables are placeholder letters (capitalized and lowercase) that represent the unknown, or what you're solving for. This video shows you what variables can look like and what they mean. Understanding variables help make algebra easier for you. [more…]
Quadratic Equations
How to Use UnFOIL to Factor Quadratic Equations (Video)
Using the unFOIL method to factor quadratic equations into two binomials requires many steps. Prime factorization and order of decreasing powers are two parts of the unFOIL method, which helps you solve for quadratic equations. Remember that FOIL stands for first, outer, inner, and last. [more…]
Most Popular
Algebra Basics
How to Use the Order of Operations
Follow the order of operations with each algebra problem you solve. The order of operations in algebra is important if you want to find the correct answer. You first work through any grouping symbols, [more…]
Quadratics in Algebra
Standard Equations of Algebraic Conics
Conics are curved algebraic forms that come from slicing a cone with a plane. Use these equations to graph algebraic conics, such as circles, ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas: [more…]
Linear Equations in Algebra
Cramer’s Rule for Linear Algebra
Named for Gabriel Cramer, Cramer’s Rule provides a solution for a system of two linear algebraic equations in terms of determinants — the numbers associated with a specific, square matrix. [more…]
Counting Techniques
Algebraic Permutations and Combinations
In algebra, you use permutations to count the number of subsets of a larger set. Use permutations when order is necessary. With combinations, you can count the number of subsets when order doesn't matter [more…]
Algebra Basics
Eight Basic Algebraic Curves
Algebra is all about graphing relationships, and the curve is one of the most basic shapes used. Here's a look at eight of the most frequently used graphs. [more…]
View:
Sorted by:
How to Multiply and Divide Positive and Negative Numbers
Multiplying and dividing positive and negative numbers is a simple operation with two numbers. With three or more, it is also straightforward, but you use the Even-Odd Rule. [more…]
How Zero Affects Positive and Negative Numbers
It isn’t too tricky to perform operations using positive and negative numbers with zero. You follow normal addition and subtraction rules, and what zero does to the final sign depends on where the zero [more…]
How to Reorder Operations with the Commutative Property
The commutative property makes working with algebraic expressions easier. The commutative property changes the order of some numbers in an operation to make the work tidier or more convenient — all without [more…]
How to Apply the Associative Property
The associative property comes in handy when you work with algebraic expressions. Use the associative property to change the grouping in an algebraic expression to make the work tidier or more convenient [more…]
How Fractions Are Put Together
Fractions just have two parts: a numerator and a denominator. The denominator, or bottom number, indicates the total number of items. The numerator, or top number, tells you how many of the total [more…]
How Proper Fractions Work
The simplest type of fraction is a proper fraction, which is always just part of one whole thing. In a proper fraction, the numerator is always smaller than the denominator, and its value is always less [more…]
What to Do When Fractions Don't Reduce
It’s always nice when you can reduce a fraction to make it more user-friendly. The fraction 3/4 is much nicer than 447/596. Sometimes, though, the fraction just doesn’t want to cooperate. In these cases [more…]
How to Divide Fractions
Dividing fractions is as easy as pie! In fact, after you change mixed numbers to improper fractions, dividing fractions is just like multiplying fractions, except that you flip the numerator and the denominator [more…]
How to Convert Decimals to Fractions
Converting decimals into fractions isn't hard. To convert a decimal into a fraction, you put the numbers to the right of the decimal point in the numerator [more…]
How to Convert Fractions to Decimals
You can convert all fractions to decimals. The decimal forms of rational numbers either end or repeat a pattern. To convert fractions to decimals you just divide the top by the bottom — divide the numerator [more…]
Using Exponents to Simplify Equations
An exponent is a small, superscripted number written above and to the right of a larger number, the base — this tells you how many times you multiply the base by itself. This repeated multiplication is [more…]
How to Write Numbers in Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a standard way of writing very large and very small numbers so that they're easier to both compare and use in computations. To write in scientific notation, follow the form [more…]
How to Multiply Exponents
You can multiply many exponential expressions together without having to change their form into the big or small numbers they represent. When multiplying exponents, the only requirement is that the bases [more…]
How to Divide Exponents
You can divide exponential expressions, leaving the answers as exponential expressions, as long as the bases are the same. To divide exponents (or powers) with the same base, subtract the exponents. Division [more…]
How to Check an Answer to an Algebra Problem
Checking your answers when doing algebra problems is always a good idea — after all, if there's a way to ensure that you have the correct answer, it's worth the time, isn't it? You check your answers in [more…]
How to Work with Coefficients
Algebra simplifies expressions with coefficients, which are numbers preceding variables. For example, 3 is the coefficient in 3x. Rather than using a multiplication sign between 3 and [more…]
How to Add and Subtract Variables
Whether you add or subtract variables, you follow the same rule, even though they have different operations: when adding or subtracting terms that have [more…]
How to Add and Subtract with Powers
To add or subtract with powers, both the variables and the exponents of the variables must be the same. You perform the required operations on the coefficients, leaving the variable and exponent as they [more…]
How to Multiply Variables
When variables are the same, multiplying them together compresses them into a single factor (variable). But you still can’t combine different variables. When multiplying variables, you multiply the coefficients [more…]
Dividing Variables in Algebra
Dividing variables in an algebra problem is fairly straightforward. Each variable is considered separately. The number coefficients are reduced the same as in simple fractions. When dividing variables, [more…]
Identifying Prime Numbers
A prime number is a whole number larger than the number 1 that can be divided evenly only by itself and 1. The first and smallest prime number is the number 2. It’s the only even prime number. All primes [more…]
How to Write Prime Factorization of Composite Numbers
Prime factorization shows you the only way a number can be factored. The process of prime factorization breaks down a composite number into the prime numbers that, when multiplied together, give you that [more…]
How to Reduce Fractions Using Prime Factorization
You can use prime factorization to reduce fractions. Start with numbers only and then add variables (letters that represent any real number) to the mix. The beauty of using the prime factorization method [more…]
How to Perform Distribution in Algebra
Distributing items is an act of spreading them out equally. Algebraic distribution means to multiply each of the terms within the parentheses by another term that is outside the parentheses. To distribute [more…]
