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{{Math-e}}

{{Math-e}}

'''Algebra''' is a major branch of [[mathematics]] that analyzes the relationships between quantities or items.  In higher math the principal fields of algebra are [[linear algebra]], which focuses on matrices, and [[group theory]].<ref>The name algebra comes from the [[Arabic]] word ''al jebr'', which means reduction or "reunion of broken parts" [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/algebra Algebra] as mentioned in a book ''Hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala'' translated as ''Science of the Reunion and the Opposition''.  This text was written in in about 830 AD by [[Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī| Mohammad ibn-Musa al-Khwarizmi]] of [[Baghdad]].  See the [http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/Museum/alkhwa.html Biography of Al-Khwarizmi]</ref>

'''Algebra''' is a major branch of [[mathematics]] that analyzes the relationships between quantities or items.  In higher math the principal fields of algebra are [[linear algebra]], which focuses on matrices, and [[abstract algebra]], which includes [[group theory]].<ref>The name algebra comes from the [[Arabic]] word ''al jebr'', which means reduction or "reunion of broken parts" [http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/algebra Algebra] as mentioned in a book ''Hisab al-jabr w'al-muqabala'' translated as ''Science of the Reunion and the Opposition''.  This text was written in in about 830 AD by [[Muhammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī| Mohammad ibn-Musa al-Khwarizmi]] of [[Baghdad]].  See the [http://www.sjsu.edu/depts/Museum/alkhwa.html Biography of Al-Khwarizmi]</ref>

==Elementary Algebra==

==Elementary Algebra==

While algebra is a very wide-ranging and advanced topic in theoretical mathematics, the word also refers to a very important topic in middle-school and high-school mathematics.  This topic is the handling of arithmetical expressions and operations involving quantities that aren't known numbers, but are symbols like x, y, or z.  These symbols are generally referred to as "variables" or "unknowns".

While algebra is a very wide-ranging and advanced topic in theoretical mathematics, the word also refers to a very important topic in middle-school and high-school mathematics.  This topic, which is sometimes known as "elementary algebra" to distinguish it from the more advanced branches, is the handling of arithmetical expressions and operations involving quantities that aren't known numbers, but are symbols like x, y, or z.  These symbols are generally referred to as "variables" or "unknowns".

Whereas, in elementary arithmetic a typical question might be:

Whereas, in elementary arithmetic a typical question might be: