Algebra is a branch of mathematics that uses letters and symbols to represent numbers and the relationships between numbers. Typically, letters will be used to represent unknown numbers and symbols will be sued to represent operations. This allows relationships between quantities to be written in short and in a generalised way, eliminating the need for individual specific examples that contain the actual values. For example, the volume of a cuboid is length times width times height algebraically that could be written as LWH. This enables us to find the volume of any cuboid once we know it's dimensions.

There are some keywords that we use in algebra such a term, operation, variable and expression. Term other parts of the algebraic expression that are separated by symbols for operation for example addition or subtraction a term could be a number a letter and sometimes a combination of both. Operation is the procedure carried out on the terms of the outbreak expression like we've used before addition, subtraction and so on. Then we have variable these are the unknown numbers or quantities that become represented by a letter. Finally, expression an expression is a statement written in algebraic form for example 2 + b. An expression can contain any combination of numbers, letters, and symbols such as + for addition.

We also will hear the term algebraic equation, and this is simply an equation that is a mathematical statement where two things are equal an example is 2 + b which is equal to 8. In this example our answer would be 6, and that is because 2 + 6 would make 8 but six here is represented by the letter B.

There are some basic rules in algebra much like the other errors of maths these rules must be followed in order to get the correct answer for example the order of operations that must be followed.

Addition and subtraction terms can be added together in any order however when you are subtracting the order of terms must be kept as it was given when we add two terms it is possible to start with either term A+B is the same as b + a. This is the same as whether we want to use two three or more terms when it comes to addition it will always be the same however subtraction is not. When we multiply terms in algebra it can also be done in any order but again dividing the terms must be kept in the order, they were given a x b is the same as b x a and that is because four rows of three gives the same answer as three rows of four. This rule applies no matter how many terms we want to include.