# What does it mean to solve a problem algebraically?

Oct 28, 2015

See explanation

#### Explanation:

In algebra you have letters to indicate the existence of an unknown value.

These letters may be combined in various configurations with known values.

You have two main groups of configuration
1: Expression. This is a collection of numbers and letters without an
equals sign. This is just a statement and is not what is termed
solvable

2.Equation. This has an equal sign that literally means the intrinsic
value of everything on one side of the equals is 'EXACTLY' the
same intrinsic value as on the other side.

The thing is: something can look quite different but have the same value. For example, take the value three ( 3 ). This is 'set in stone'. We all know what it means. However ( 5-2 ) does not look the same but its intrinsic value is.

So we have some form of configuration on one side of an equals sign and another form of configuration on the other.

To obtain a solution we move things round in a way that is mathematically correct until we have just $\textcolor{red}{\text{one}}$ of what we wish to find the value of on one side of the equals and everything else on the other.

Example: Given that $3 = x + 6$ find the value of $x$

To have $x$ on its own we need to remove the 6. The problem is that all on the left $\textcolor{red}{\text{must}}$be equal in value to all on the right. So if we remove 6 from the right we $\textcolor{red}{\text{must}}$ also remove it from the left. Remove is 'subtract' so we have:

Subtract 6 from both sides giving:

$\left(3\right) - 6 = \left(x + 6\right) - 6$ Note that I have put brackets round the original parts to show what is going on. They serve no other purpose in this case.

From this action we now end up with:

$- 3 = x$

Convention is that what we are looking for is on the left so we write:

$x = - 3$

There are a large number of correct mathematical manipulations. Knowing them is down to experience.

If this helps please let me know.