
2 Elementary Algebra
Elementary algebra encompasses some of the basic concepts of algebra, one of the
main branches of mathematics. It is typically taught to secondary school students and
builds on their understanding of arithmetic. Whereas arithmetic deals with specified
numbers, algebra introduces quantities without fixed values known as variables. This
use of variables entails a use of algebraic notation and an understanding of the general
rules of the operators introduced in arithmetic. Unlike abstract algebra, elementary
algebra is not concerned with algebraic structures outside the realm of real and com-
plex numbers. The use of variables to