Expressions and formulas.

You have an arithmetic expression in front of you, and you wonder: Do I have to add first, or do I multiply first? Maybe, you don't know if you have to do the parenthesis first, or the fraction.

This lesson will guide you in a simple way to the process, the orden of operations; when you work with expressions, or when you substitute in formulas. You will be an expert at the end of the lesson!

Lesson's Content


Lesson In PDF Format (no animations)

Lesson's Glossary

Constant (monomial): It is a number or value that remains always the same. Never changes.

Evaluating a variable expression: Given an expression and values for the variables, it is the process of substituting these values in the expression and simplify it following the order of operations.

Formula: Any equation which states a rule in a relationship.

Grouping symbol: Parentheses, brackets, fraction bar are grouping symbols used to enclose an expression that should be simplified before other operations are performed.

Numerical expression: Any expression naming a particular numbers; also a numeral.

Power of a number: The product we obtain when a number is multiplied by itself a number of times; 3x3x3x3 is the fourth power of 3 or 34

Quadratic formula: Solutions of a quadratic equation in the form ax² + bx + c =0 and b² - 4ac needs to be equal or greater than zero to yield real numbers.

Simplifying a numerical expression: Changing any expression to the simplest name for its value.

Value of a numerical expression: The resulting number of the expression.

Interactive Algebraic Applets

The Quadratic Equation presents a great opportunity to practice order

of operations. It requires that you simplify the fraction symbol of the equation.

You may work at the numerator and denominator simultaneously. At the

numerator, you simplify the radical symbol by applying the order of operations

inside it, and the product of the sign in the b. In the denominator you just perform

a multiplication. Once you completed the numerator, then you divide it by the

denominator, but don't forget you get two equations for the + and - sign.

Practice with the applet below, you may generate different values for a, b, and c.

Vocabulary Puzzle

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Expressions and Formulas. Order of operations.

You have an arithmetic expression in front of you, and you wonder: Do I have to add first, or do I multiply first? Maybe, you don't know if you have to do the parenthesis first, or the fraction.

This lesson will guide you in a simple way to the process, the orden of operations; when you work with expressions, or when you substitute in formulas. You will be an expert at the end of the lesson!