algebra

noun

al·​ge·​bra ˈal-jə-brə 

1

: a generalization of arithmetic in which letters representing numbers are combined according to the rules of arithmetic

2

: any of various systems or branches of mathematics or logic concerned with the properties and relationships of abstract entities (such as complex numbers, matrices, sets, vectors, groups, rings, or fields) manipulated in symbolic form under operations often analogous to those of arithmetic compare boolean algebra

algebraist

ˈal-jə-ˌbrā-ist 

noun

Examples of algebra in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The algebra portion of the exam consisted of basic questions, which users found surprising, considering MIT is one of the most prestigious universities in the world today. —Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 2 Oct. 2024

Tiebreakers come into play, and the NBA’s criteria can feel like algebra homework: Head-to-head record (which won’t help if multiple teams tie). —Brian Sampson, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

Similar to the way that calculators for high school algebra work, Markov chain Monte Carlo takes in a mathematical equation from the user and figures out the values of each variable that maximize the predictive accuracy of the model. —G. Elliott Morris, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2024

Figuring out the possible structures of groups has been one of the central projects of algebra over the last century. —Leila Sloman, WIRED, 6 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-jabr, literally, the reduction

First Known Use

1551, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing algebra

• abstract algebra
• Boolean algebra
• linear algebra

Kids Definition

algebra

noun

al·​ge·​bra ˈal-jə-brə 

: a branch of mathematics that uses letters to represent numbers and that studies numbers and the operations (as multiplication and addition) that are used on them

algebraic

ˌal-jə-ˈbrā-ik

adjective

algebraically

-ˈbrā-ə-k(ə-)lē

adverb