Algebra
Introduction to algebra
Videos exploring why algebra was developed and how it helps us explain our world.
Overview and history of algebra
Did you realize that the word "algebra" comes from Arabic (just like "algorithm" and "al jazeera" and "Aladdin")? And what is so great about algebra anyway?
This tutorial doesn't explore algebra so much as it introduces the history and ideas that underpin it.
The why of algebra
Much of algebra seems obsessed with "doing the same thing to both sides". Why is this? How can we develop an intuition for which algebraic operations are valid and which ones aren't?
This tutorial takes a high-level, conceptual walk-through of what an equation represents and why we do the same thing to both sides of it.
- Why we do the same thing to both sides: simple equations
- Representing a relationship with a simple equation
- One-Step Equation Intuition
- One step equation intuition exercise intro
- Adding and subtracting the same thing from both sides
- Intuition why we divide both sides
- Why we do the same thing to both sides: two-step equations
- Why we do the same thing to both sides: multi-step equations
- Why we do the same thing to both sides basic systems
- Why all the letters in Algebra?
Yoga plans
This tutorial is a survey of all the core ideas in a traditional first-year algebra course. It is by no means comprehensive (that's what the other 600+ videos are for), but it will hopefully whet your appetite for more algebra!