the mathematics of generalized arithmetical operations
"Students struggled to understand algebra because it requires thinking about generalized arithmetical operations rather than just counting objects."
A system for computation using letters or other symbols to represent numbers, with rules for manipulating these symbols.
"Students learned how to solve equations by applying algebra, a system that uses letters like x and y to represent unknown numbers according to specific mathematical rules."
In plain English: Algebra is a type of math that uses letters to represent numbers so you can solve for unknown values.
"My son is struggling with algebra because he doesn't understand how to solve for x."
Usage: Algebra is the branch of mathematics that uses letters and symbols to solve problems involving unknown quantities. It differs from arithmetic by focusing on general relationships rather than specific numerical calculations.
Algebra comes from the Arabic word al-jabr, which originally meant "reunion" or the resetting of broken parts. English adopted the term through Medieval Latin after it appeared in the title of al-Khwarizmi's influential mathematical treatise on calculation by completion and balancing.