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| Algebra Connections Glossary | ||||||||||||||||||||
undoing |
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| In this course, “undoing” refers to a method of solving one-variable equations. In “undoing,” we undo the last operation that was applied to an expression by applying its inverse operation. We then solve the resulting equation using various solution methods, including perhaps undoing again. For example, in the equation 4(x + 2) = 36, the last operation that was applied to the left-hand side was a multiplication by 4. So to use “undoing,” we divide both sides of the equation by 4, giving us x + 2 = 9. We then solve the equation x + 2 = 9 (perhaps by “undoing” again and subtracting 2 from both sides) to find that x = 7. | |
variable |
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A symbol used to represent one or more numbers. In this course, letters of the English alphabet are used as variables. For example, in the expression 3x − (8.6xy + z), the variables are x, y, and z. |
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vertex (of a parabola) |
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The vertex of a parabola is the highest or lowest point on the parabola (depending on the parabola’s orientation).
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vertical lines |
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| Vertical lines run up and down in the same direction as the y-axis and are parallel to it. All vertical lines have equations of the form x = a, where a can be any number. For example, the graph below shows the vertical line x = 2. The y-axis has the equation x = 0 because x = 0 everywhere on the y-axis. Vertical lines have undefined slope.
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