Understanding algebra is the key to advanced mathematics. The lessons below walk you through how to solve common algebra problems and how to think about different algebra concepts.

Introduction

• What is algebra?

The basics (before algebra)

• What is an integer?
• Multiplying Fractions
• Understanding exponents
• PEMDAS and the order of operations

Algebraic expressions and simplifying

• Combining like terms
• The laws of exponents

Operations with polynomials

• What are polynomials?
• Adding and subtracting polynomials
• Multiplying two binomials FOIL

Solving equations

• How to solve linear equations with one variable
• Solving quadratic equations with the quadratic formula
• Absolute value equations
• Using wolfram alpha to solve equations

Graphing

General

• Plotting points in the xy-coordinate plane
• Finding y-intercepts
• Finding x-intercepts

The graphs of linear equations

• Finding the slope of a line
• Lines with a slope of zero
• Lines with undefined slope
• Graphing linear equations
• The standard form of a line

Systems of equations

• Systems of linear equations and their graphs

Functions

• Function notation and evaluating functions

Matrices

• Matrix notation and the size of a matrix
• Adding and subtracting matrices, and multiplying a matrix by a constant
• Multiplying matrices (includes animation of the process)
• Multiplying matrices on the TI83 or 84 calculator
  

Other Topics

• Simple interest
• Compound interest
• Continuously compounding interest

Articles

• Why can’t you cancel the x?
• Three common algebra mistakes you must avoid

Fun

• The quadratic formula song