Algebra (from Arabic al-jebr meaning "reunion of broken parts"[1]) is one of the broad parts

of mathematics, together with number theory, geometry and analysis. In its most general form
algebra is the study of symbols and the rules for manipulating symbols[2] and is a unifying thread
of almost all of mathematics.[3] As such, it includes everything from elementary equation solving
to the study of abstractions such as groups, rings, and fields. The more basic parts of algebra are
called elementary algebra, the more abstract parts are called abstract algebra or modern algebra.
Elementary algebra is essential for any study of mathematics, science, or engineering, as well as
such applications as medicine and economics. Abstract algebra is a major area in advanced
mathematics, studied primarily by professional mathematicians. Much early work in algebra, as
the Arabic origin of its name suggests, was done in the Near East, by such mathematicians
as Omar Khayyam (10481131).[4][5]

Algebra uses letters (like x or y) or other symbols in place of unknown values.

For example: x + 3 = 7
"x" is unknown (often called the "variable").
In this case the value of "x" can be found by subtracting 3 from both sides of the equal sign like
this:
Start with: x + 3 = 7
Subtract 3 from both sides: x + 3 - 3 = 7 - 3
Calculate: x + 0 = 4
Answer: x = 4
algebra emerged at the end of 16th century, with the work of Franois Vite. Algebra can
essentially be considered as doing computations similar to those of arithmetic but with nonnumerical mathematical objects. However, until the 19th century, algebra consisted essentially of
the theory of equations. For example, the fundamental theorem of algebra belongs to the theory
of equations and is not, nowadays, considered as belonging to algebra.
To add or subtract with powers, both the variables and the exponents of the variables must be the
same. You perform the required operations on the coefficients, leaving the variable and exponent
as they are. When adding or subtracting with powers, the terms that combine always have exactly
the same variables with exactly the same powers.
Example 1:
x + x + x = 3x
Because the variables are the same (x) and the powers are the same (there are no exponents, so
the exponents must be 1), you can add the variables.
Example 2:

Because the variables are the same (x) and the powers are the same (2), you can perform the
required operations on the variables.

Example 3:

Although the variables are the same (x), the powers are not the same (1, 2, 3, and 4). You can't
simplify these terms because only the variables are the same, and both the variables and the
powers need to be the same.
Example 4:

Sometimes not all of the variables and powers will be the same you may encounter a problem
that has several groups of variables and powers that are not the same. In this case, you only add
or subtract terms whose variables and powers are the same. (Notice that the exponents are listed
in order from highest to lowest. This is a common practice to make answers easy to compare.)
How to Write Numbers in Scientific Notation
Scientific notation is a standard way of writing very large and very small numbers so that they're
easier to both compare and use in computations. To write in scientific notation, follow the form

where N is a number between 1 and 10, but not 10 itself, and a is an integer (positive or negative
number).
You move the decimal point of a number until the new form is a number from 1 up to 10 (N), and
then record the exponent (a) as the number of places the decimal point was moved. Whether the
power of 10 is positive or negative depends on whether you move the decimal to the right or to
the left. Moving the decimal to the right makes the exponent negative; moving it to the left gives
you a positive exponent.
To see an exponent that's positive, write 312,000,000,000 in scientific notation:
1.

Move the decimal place to the left to create a new number from 1 up to 10.
Where's the decimal point in 312,000,000,000? Because it's a whole number, the decimal
point is understood to be at the end of the number: 312,000,000,000.
So, N = 3.12.

2.

Determine the exponent, which is the number of times you moved the decimal.

In this example, you moved the decimal 11 times; also, because you moved the decimal to
the left, the exponent is positive. Therefore, a = 11, and so you get

3.

Put the number in the correct form for scientific notation

To see an exponent that's negative, write .00000031 in scientific notation.

1.

Move the decimal place to the right to create a new number from 1 up to 10.
So, N = 3.1.

2.

Determine the exponent, which is the number of times you moved the decimal.
In this example, you moved the decimal 7 times; also, because you moved the decimal to the
right, the exponent is negative. Therefore, a = 7, and so you get

3.

1.
2.

Put the number in the correct form for scientific notation

Who created algebra

Musa al-Khwarizmi
The word algebra stems from the Arabic word al-jabr, from the name of the treatise
Book on Addition and Subtraction after the Method of the Indians written by the 9th-century
Persian mathematician Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi,translated,formalized and
commented on ancient Indian and Greek works.Aug 7, 2013