Free Algebra Help

Many people can find help for high school or college algebra online when other options are not available. Websites offer free information to help with homework problems. Although many websites provide answers to homework problems, it doesn't always help if the student doesn't understand how to solve the problem on their own since algebra, like most math, depends on learning a set of rules. Any resource that would be helpful must explain how these rules work and how they can be applied to solve homework problems. These rules come in many forms such as formulas, equations, properties, methods and procedures. In addition, it is important to understand key definitions and important math terms. For algebra, in particular, a student has to have a good foundation in arithmetic including fractions and decimals. One of the most important new concepts a student will encounter in algebra is the variable. A variable can be thought of as a special container or placeholder for a number. In general, a variable can represent any number unless its limits are specified.

Although a variable can represent any number, sometimes only one number can be used. Finding this number is called solving the variable. In this case, the variable represents a mathematical solution or answer to a problem. One example of this is the linear equation which is usually represented by two variables, one independent and the other dependent. When a value is inserted into one variable, the other can only have one value which is the solution.

The linear equation is an important concept in algebra. The student is expected to solve linear equations and be able to graph them. The graph of a linear equation is a straight line on the Cartesian coordinate plane. The equation determines the direction the line points which is also known as the slope. It also indicates its location based on where it intersects one of the primary axes that define the plane. Since a line can be determined from just two points, if two points are plotted in the Cartesian coordinate plane also known as the x-y plane, the linear equation that corresponds to these two points can be found. Sometimes a system of linear equations needs to be solved. A system in this case is two or more linear equations that have the same solutions for their variables when solved. On a graph, a system of linear equations is represented by a line for each equation. The intersection of these lines is the graphical solution.

When linear equations have been understood; the next topic in algebra is usually polynomials. A polynomial is a type of function that has two or more terms. It usually means, however, three or more terms in the expression or equation. An expression with just one term is called a monomial while two terms would be a binomial. Each term has either a different set of variables or the same set but the variables are raised to different powers. One important type of polynomial function is the quadratic equation.

The quadratic equation has two forms: expanded form where it is a monomial or polynomial with two or three terms or factored form where it is usually represented by two factors consisting of linear binomials. The graph of the quadratic function is called a parabola and has a cup or bowl shape on the coordinate plane. One of the tasks a student of algebra is expected to do with quadratic equations is to convert them from one form to another. One example is where a product of linear factors is written as an expanded monomial or polynomial. The rule used to go from factored form to expanded form is called the Law of Distribution or the distributive property. The reverse process usually requires factoring a polynomial which can be more complicated. There are many different methods of factoring. Most methods factor a quadratic polynomial by factoring the coefficients. The most effective way is by completing the square or using the quadratic formula.

There are many web sites online that can help math students as well as algebra students to understand the rules and procedures used in algebra. Some of these websites offer free help for math homework problems in algebra.