Elementary algebra is a fundamental and relatively basic form of algebra  taught to students who are presumed to have little or no formal knowledge of mathematics beyond arithmetic. While in arithmetic only numbers and their arithmetical operations (such as +, −, ×, ÷) occur, in algebra one also uses symbols (such as x and y, or a and b) to denote numbers. Elementary Algebra should be distinguished from abstract algebra, a more advanced field of study. (Algebra 1; find Algebra 1 Help and Algebra 1 Answers)

In elementary algebra, an “expression” may contain numbers, variables and arithmetical operations. These are usually written (by convention) with ‘higher-power’ terms on the left (see polynomial); a few examples are:

x + 3\,

y^{2} + 2x – 3\,

z^{7} + a(b + x^{3}) + 42/y – \pi.\,

In more advanced algebra, an expression may also include elementary functions.

An equation is the claim that two expressions are equal. Some equations are true for all values of the involved variables (such as a + b = b + a); such equations are called identities. Conditional equations are true for only some values of the involved variables: x2 − 1 = 4. The values of the variables which make the equation true are the solutions of the equation and can be found through equation solving. (Algebra 2; find Algebra 2 Help and Algebra 2 Answers)