Algebraic Notation

In algebra, letters (called variables) stand for unknown or changing values. We use them to write general rules instead of doing one calculation at a time.

There are a few conventions to learn:

• We write $3x$ instead of $3 \times x$.
• We write $x^2$ instead of $x \times x$.
• $1x$ is just written as $x$.
• Division is written as a fraction: $\dfrac{x}{4}$ instead of $x \div 4$.

An expression is a collection of terms joined by $+$ or $-$ signs. A term is a number, a letter, or a number multiplied by a letter. The number in front of the letter is the coefficient.

Type an expression to see its parts labelled: coefficients, variables, operators, and constants.

Watch it work

Question: Write "add 4 to the product of 3 and $n$" using algebraic notation.

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