Algebra 01 (F)

Imagine you had a number of squares and quarter-circles, and you can combine these to make different shapes. We can use the letter S to indicate a square, and Q for a quarter-circle.

Using 3 squares and 2 quarter-circles it is possible to make a number of different shapes, but each one will have the same area. We can write this as the expression 3S + 2Q.

Now imagine someone else comes along and gives you 2 squares and 4 quarter-circles. How many squares, and how many quarter-circles do you now have? It should be obvious that you have 5S + 6Q. You can’t add a square to a circle, and one of our rules of Algebra is that we can’t add terms that have different letters. The rules for multiplying and dividing are a bit different, so make sure you know the difference.

Having good Algebra skills opens up a whole world of opportunities, from Finance to Space Travel and everything in between!