Easy Algebra Learning: Simplify the Process

[Robert Wilson]

Is there any simplest way to learn algebra?

 

[symbolipoint]

Best to use a good textbook. Read the sections in order, as many times as you need; work through the explanations. Work through the examples; work through the sections' exercises, and check your answers and use answer key if necessary.

Start in Introductory Algebra, Elementary Algebra, or Algebra 1.

That might be "simple"; but not assured to be "easy". Learning and study require effort. Most of the properties you study and hope to learn are uncomplicated to understand. Sometimes putting them all together as you study becomes difficult, which just means, effort is needed. Studying every day is needed.

 

[verty]

There are some nice videos by Professor Leonard on Youtube. There are ones he calls "Prealgebra" and ones he calls "Intermediate Algebra".

 

[Stephen Tashi]

Is there any simplest way to learn algebra?

That depends on your current knowledge and abilities.

I'm curious whether your question is related to a link you gave in a post (now deleted) to another website. It was a question from a tutor and a gruff answer by a supposed experienced tutor.

 

[jim hardy]

Practice makes perfect.

It is though of utmost importance to be NEAT and ORDERLY
Show every step on a separate line, rewriting the whole equation each time you manipulate it.
Keep your lines level
and keep the individual terms of your equations aligned vertically.
BECAUSE if you don't,
you WILL make little mistakes in arithmetic that cause you to get the wrong answers,
and THAT will make you think algebra is difficult .
It's not algebra that is difficult ,
what IS difficult is mustering the discipline to be neat and orderly as you go about your algebra.

Same applies to calculus.

I cannot overstress importance of the above. Form good habits early.

old jim

 

[symbolipoint]

Practice makes perfect.

It is though of utmost importance to be NEAT and ORDERLY
Show every step on a separate line, rewriting the whole equation each time you manipulate it.
Keep your lines level
and keep the individual terms of your equations aligned vertically.
BECAUSE if you don't,
you WILL make little mistakes in arithmetic that cause you to get the wrong answers,
and THAT will make you think algebra is difficult .
It's not algebra that is difficult ,
what IS difficult is mustering the discipline to be neat and orderly as you go about your algebra.

Same applies to calculus.

I cannot overstress importance of the above. Form good habits early.

old jim

Much of that means, do not try to hold everything you are working with and the computations in your head. WRITE the steps, as many steps as you need.
The strength and magic of basic algebra is not the holding of steps and computations in your head; but in carrying the steps outward, on paper, and choosing the properties needed to handle the numeric expressions and equations/or inequalities.

 

[jim hardy]

The strength and magic of basic algebra is not the holding of steps and computations in your head; but in carrying the steps outward, on paper, and choosing the properties needed to handle the numeric expressions and equations/or inequalities.

Well Said !


A mind that's too quick can be a real handicap to a beginning algebra student..
Like the old song says "Slow down, you move too fast.."

The strength and magic of basic algebra is not the holding of steps and computations in your head; but in carrying the steps outward, on paper,

Amen !

 

[symbolipoint]

...

A mind that's too quick can be a real handicap to a beginning algebra student..
Like the old song says "Slow down, you move too fast.."

...

That helps me to know why learning most of basic algebra in high school was more effective than the other subject-matter subjects! That was mostly just me; a person with a slower mind.

 

[DrClaude]

Khan Academy is also a good place to start.

 

[fresh_42]

You all seem to know what is meant by "algebra". I'm curious, as the term without an additional adjective refers usually to simple arithmetic. I'm used to associate with it what in English is called abstract algebra, i.e. groups, fields, rings and modules, etc. So is it "obvious" that only arithmetic is meant here?

 

[jim hardy]

What i had in mind was my ninth grade algebra class
which was a step up from arithmetic
in that we used letters instead of numbers .
.

old jim

 

[fresh_42]

What i had in mind was my ninth grade algebra class
which was a step up from arithmetic
in that we used letters instead of numbers .
.

old jim

Thanks.

In this case https://openstax.org/subjects is another good source for books free to download. (I think they can also be ordered printed, but at least one can have a close look beforehand.)

 

[Robert Wilson]

Best to use a good textbook. Read the sections in order, as many times as you need; work through the explanations. Work through the examples; work through the sections' exercises, and check your answers and use answer key if necessary.

Start in Introductory Algebra, Elementary Algebra, or Algebra 1.

That might be "simple"; but not assured to be "easy". Learning and study require effort. Most of the properties you study and hope to learn are uncomplicated to understand. Sometimes putting them all together as you study becomes difficult, which just means, effort is needed. Studying every day is needed.

Thanks a lot, i will definitely work on it. Can you suggest me some good apps to learn algebra?

 

[Robert Wilson]

That depends on your current knowledge and abilities.

I'm curious whether your question is related to a link you gave in a post (now deleted) to another website. It was a question from a tutor and a gruff answer by a supposed experienced tutor.

Don't know what exactly you are talking about

 

[Robert Wilson]

Thanks.

In this case https://openstax.org/subjects is another good source for books free to download. (I think they can also be ordered printed, but at least one can have a close look beforehand.)

Thanks for the help

 

[Robert Wilson]

Practice makes perfect.

It is though of utmost importance to be NEAT and ORDERLY
Show every step on a separate line, rewriting the whole equation each time you manipulate it.
Keep your lines level
and keep the individual terms of your equations aligned vertically.
BECAUSE if you don't,
you WILL make little mistakes in arithmetic that cause you to get the wrong answers,
and THAT will make you think algebra is difficult .
It's not algebra that is difficult ,
what IS difficult is mustering the discipline to be neat and orderly as you go about your algebra.

Same applies to calculus.

I cannot overstress importance of the above. Form good habits early.

old jim

Thanks Jim, But i think calculus is a way more difficult than algebra. The terms limits, functions, derivatives, integrals and infinite series seems to be more complex.

 

[symbolipoint]

Thanks a lot, i will definitely work on it. Can you suggest me some good apps to learn algebra?

No. None of any kind.
What you need is one or two good algebra 1 textbooks, two or three hundred sheets of letter-sized paper, maybe about 40 sheets of graph paper, two or three regular pencils or one or two mechanical reloadable-lead pencils, eraser, and an inexpensive scientific calculator (this only to help with long computations or to help in checking your work). No "apps", and no other electronic technology needed of any sort. I would suggest, in case you have the interest or motivation, try to learn some basic simple computer programming but this is not necessary, and it can wait until much later; you might find that once you gained some significant algebra skills, you may want to automate some of the numeric results.

Thanks Jim, But i think calculus is a way more difficult than algebra. The terms limits, functions, derivatives, integrals and infinite series seems to be more complex.

Yes, it is. Learn your courses in this sequence:

1. Algebra 1 or Introductory/Elementary/Beginning Algebra
2. Algebra 2 or Intermediate Algebra
3. Geometry
4. Trigonometry
5. Pre-Calculus Or College Algebra And Trigonometry (a combination course)

Some people might skip Trig as a separate course and do Precalculus instead.
Some people might skip Precalculus, but do the separate Trigonom course.
Some people might do Geometry BEFORE Algebra 2.
A few people might say that all you need before Calculus 1 is Algebra 2 and Trigonometry (but this might be a bad idea).

And then start into Calculus 1.

 

[jim hardy]

i think calculus is a way more difficult than algebra. The terms limits, functions, derivatives, integrals and infinite series seems to be more complex.

It's like any other subject you learn the vocabulary one term at a time and become familiar with its use.

I think you'll love calculus .
The textbook my school used was very practical. Author dedicated two chapters to each of those terms you mentioned - one chapter introduced the term and dwelt on the derivation, the next chapter was real world examples solving problems with real numbers.
Great for student engineers.

Like symbolipoint says - don't skimp on paper . Use plenty so you have room to be neat.

It is vitally important to keep up. I found the subject matter was presented at the maximum rate i could absorb it.
Do each night's homework that very night.
If you keep up it's as easy as waterskiing, the lessons fly by smoothly. Fall behind and it's like trying to swim up a waterfall.

old jim