Expressions & Equations Vocabulary
Understand and use the concepts and vocabulary of expressions, equations, inequalities, terms, and factors; distinguish between an expression (no equals sign), an equation (equals sign), and an inequality (inequality sign)
What a learner can do afterwards
- Define and distinguish between expression, equation, and inequality
- Identify terms, coefficients, and factors in algebraic expressions
- Use the vocabulary of algebra precisely in mathematical discussions
1 · Read
You already know how to write algebra with letters and numbers, like 3x + 2. Algebra statements come in different kinds, and each kind has a name. The sign in the middle tells you which kind you're looking at.
An expression has no equals sign and no inequality sign. It's just a math phrase, like 3x + 2. An equation has an equals sign, like 3x + 2 = 11. It says two things have the same value. An inequality has a sign like > (greater than) or < (less than), like 3x + 2 > 11. It says one side is bigger or smaller, not equal.
Look at the expression 5y - 4. It has two terms: 5y and -4, joined by a minus sign. In the term 5y, the number 5 is the coefficient, and 5 and y are its factors, because they're multiplied together to make the term.
To tell the three apart fast, check the middle sign first. No equals or inequality sign: expression. An equals sign: equation. A sign like > or <: inequality.
No sign means expression, an equals sign means equation, and a greater-than or less-than sign means inequality.
Readings 'Algebra words', 'Coefficient, equation, evaluate', 'Terms and factors', 'What an inequality says' and 'Simplify or solve?' are original to this dataset. All 6 extra questions are original to this dataset.
2 · Watch
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14 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.