Praxis Core 2023-2024 For Dummies, 4th Edition

Chapter 5

Introducing Letters: Algebra

IN THIS CHAPTER

Coming to terms with variables

Solving equations and inequalities

Facing the facts of factoring

Making quick work of word problems

Looking at patterns and conditional statements

Now’s the time to revisit your days as an algebra student. When you start treating letters like numbers, you’re entering algebra territory. This chapter can help you safely navigate that territory. The Praxis Core exam tests basic algebra knowledge — generally, the material that’s covered in pre-algebra and perhaps some Algebra I courses, depending on where you went to school and when. Algebra questions make up 20 percent of the math section of the Praxis Core. Also, many of the geometry questions on the test involve algebra, so this chapter goes a long way toward preparing you for the entire math test of the Praxis exam.

Variables: When Letters Represent Numbers

You’re very familiar with letters, and algebra just involves using letters in some different ...