Changes

::What is the value of 3+4?

::What is the value of 3+4?

in elementary algebra a typical question might be:

in elementary algebra a typical question might be:

::If ''x''+4=7, what is the value of ''x''?

::If ''x''+4 = 7, what is the value of ''x''?

Of course this example is so simple as to be practically pointless—why would someone ask a question this way?—the use of algebra opens up sophisticated ways of solving sophisticated problems.

Of course this example is so simple as to be practically pointless—why would someone ask a question this way?—the use of algebra opens up sophisticated ways of solving sophisticated problems.

so we get

so we get

::<math>(3+4) \times x = 56\,</math>

::<math>(3+4) \times x = 56\,</math>

and hence ''x''=8.  You can plug ''x''=8 into <math>3 \times x + 4 \times x\,</math> and see that the result is 24+32, or 56.

and hence ''x'' = 8.  You can plug ''x'' = 8 into <math>3 \times x + 4 \times x\,</math> and see that the result is 24+32, or 56.

==Polynomial Manipulations==

==Polynomial Manipulations==