Variable Equations

When you first look at it, algebra looks like math with letters.

But, what you quickly learn is that those letters, called variables, represent numbers.  You just don't know what numbers they represent yet!

In advanced algebra problems, you will solve for these variables (or the lines created by these variables).

But, at the most basic level, you can always replace variables in equations with the numbers that those variables stand for. 

Algebra is when, in math, you use variables in place of numbers that you don't know.  Those variables stand for a number, you just don't know what it is.

When you are given an algebraic equation with just one variable, you have all of the information you need to figure out the value of that variable.

Think about this example:

$x + 5 = 9$

Do you know what $x$ equals?

Sure you do.  You know that $4+5=9$ so $x$ must equal $4$.