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Why is there algebra?

Updated: 8/17/2019
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Smithra

Lvl 1
8y ago

Best Answer

Algebra helps us to answer questions where there is an unknown value (not necessarily the bit after '=') or for when there is a range of answers which will be correct for a mathematic equation. For example, if you had an equation: 2A + 16 = 18, it is easy to see that A=1 in this case.

You can also use algebra in cases where two equations use the same letter within, corresponding to the same value in each, and this can be used to solve when there are 2 unknown values. For example:

Eqn (1): 2A+3B=17

Eqn (2): 2A-8=6B

The values of A and B are both unknown, but because it is known that both A and B are equal in both equations we can manipulate them to eliminate one of the unknown values: If you subtract Eqn (2) from Eqn (1), the 2A's will cancel and you would be left with 3B+8=17-6B, if this is rearranged to get all of the B's on one side of the '=' you get 9B=9, and thus know that B=1, this can then be substituted into either equation to find A: 2A+(3x1)=17

2A=14

and therefore: A=7

These are only simple examples of how we utilise algebra, this is essentially why we have algebra.

+++

That does not answer the question, but gives only examples of use. Algebra is the language of mathematics - the collection of letters and symbols that allow mathematical expressions, equations and methods to be described in such a way that they can be used to solve numerical problems.

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