Key takeaway: Algebra terms name the parts of expressions and equations and the methods used to solve them, from variable and like terms to the quadratic formula and synthetic division.
These algebra terms cover the language of expressions and equations: what a coefficient is, why like terms can be combined, how the elimination method removes a variable, when a solution is extraneous. They start in sixth grade and continue through Precalculus.
Function words have their own topic page; here the focus is on writing, simplifying and solving.
53 terms on this page, each with a definition, a figure and a worked example.
Algebra Terms: the full list
Grade 6
- Algebraic Expression 6.EE.A.2
- Coefficient 6.EE.A.2b
- Dependent Variable 6.EE.C.9
- Distributive Property 6.EE.A.3
- Equation 6.EE.B.5
- Equivalent Expressions 6.EE.A.4
- Independent Variable 6.EE.C.9
- Inequality 6.EE.B.8
- Inverse Operations 6.EE.B.7
- Like Terms 6.EE.A.3
- One-Step Equation 6.EE.B.7
- Term (Algebra) 6.EE.A.2b
- Variable 6.EE.A.2
Grade 7
- Two-Step Equation 7.EE.B.4a
- Two-Step Inequality 7.EE.B.4b
Grade 8
- Elimination Method 8.EE.C.8b
- Linear Equation 8.EE.C.7
- Substitution Method 8.EE.C.8b
- System of Equations 8.EE.C.8
Grade 9 – Algebra 1
- Binomial A-APR.A.1
- Completing the Square A-REI.B.4a
- Compound Inequality A-REI.B.3
- Degree of a Polynomial A-APR.A.1
- Difference of Squares A-SSE.A.2
- Discriminant A-REI.B.4b
- Factoring A-SSE.A.2
- Factoring Out the GCF A-SSE.A.2
- FOIL Method A-APR.A.1
- Literal Equation A-CED.A.4
- Monomial A-SSE.A.1a
- Perfect Square Trinomial A-SSE.A.2
- Polynomial A-APR.A.1
- Quadratic Formula A-REI.B.4b
- System of Inequalities A-REI.D.12
- Trinomial A-APR.A.1
- Zero Product Property A-SSE.B.3a
Grade 11 – Algebra 2
- Arithmetic Series A-SSE.B.4
- Exponential Equation F-LE.A.4
- Extraneous Solution A-REI.A.2
- Factor Theorem A-APR.B.2
- Geometric Series A-SSE.B.4
- Polynomial Long Division A-APR.D.6
- Rational Expression A-APR.D.6
- Remainder Theorem A-APR.B.2
- Sigma Notation A-SSE.B.4
- Synthetic Division A-APR.D.6
Grade 12 – Precalculus
- Binomial Theorem A-APR.C.5
- Determinant N-VM.C.10
- Fundamental Theorem of Algebra N-CN.C.9
- Inverse Matrix A-REI.C.9
- Matrix N-VM.C.6
- Pascal's Triangle A-APR.C.5
- Rational Root Theorem A-APR.B.3