Meaning & use
algebraic expression
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Meanings
nouncountablemathematics
A combination of numbers, letters standing for unknown values, and operations such as addition and multiplication, written without an equals sign.
Grammar: Countable: 3x + 5 is an algebraic expression.
Patterns
- simplify an algebraic expression
- evaluate an algebraic expression
The expression 2x + 7 is an algebraic expression with one variable.
The students learned to simplify each algebraic expression before solving.
To evaluate the algebraic expression, replace y with 4.
nouncountablemathematics
A written statement in algebra that represents a quantity or relationship, such as the perimeter of a shape in terms of its side length.
Grammar: Often used in word problems: write an algebraic expression for the situation.
Patterns
- write an algebraic expression for something
Write an algebraic expression for the cost of buying n notebooks at five dollars each.
The perimeter of a square with side s is the algebraic expression 4s.
Word forms
| plural | algebraic expressions |
|---|
Common combinations
- simplify an algebraic expression
- Simplify the algebraic expression by combining like terms.
- evaluate an algebraic expression
- Evaluate the algebraic expression when x equals 3.
- factor an algebraic expression
- She factored the algebraic expression into two brackets.
- write an algebraic expression
- Write an algebraic expression for twice a number plus one.
- expand an algebraic expression
- Expand the algebraic expression using the distributive property.
Synonyms and how they differ
- formula
- A formula states a rule with an equals sign, while an algebraic expression has no equals sign.
- equation
- An equation says two things are equal, whereas an algebraic expression does not.
- polynomial
- A polynomial is a special type of algebraic expression with only whole-number powers, so it is narrower.
- term
- A term is one piece of an expression, while an algebraic expression is the whole combination.
Word family
- algebra noun
- the branch of mathematics using letters for unknown numbers
- algebraic adjective
- relating to algebra
- algebraically adverb
- using algebra
- variable noun
- a letter that stands for a changing value
- coefficient noun
- a number multiplying a variable
Commonly confused: algebraic expression or algebraic equation?
algebraic expression vs algebraic equation
An algebraic equation contains an equals sign and can be solved, while an expression can only be simplified or evaluated.
Practice
Which of these is an algebraic expression rather than an equation?
Choose one answer.
3y - 4 has no equals sign, so it is an expression. The others each state that two sides are equal, so they are equations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “algebraic expression”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.