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A formal expression is a kind of string of symbols, created by the same production rules as standard expressions, however, they are used without regard to the meaning of the expression. In this way, two formal expressions are considered equal only if they are syntactically equal, that is, if they are the exact same expression.
Algebra is the branch of mathematics that studies certain abstract systems, known as algebraic structures, and the manipulation of expressions within those systems. It is a generalization of arithmetic that introduces variables and algebraic operations other than the standard arithmetic operations, such as addition and multiplication.
Algebraic notation describes the rules and conventions for writing mathematical expressions, as well as the terminology used for talking about parts of expressions. For example, the expression + has the following components: Algebraic expression notation: 1 – power (exponent) 2 – coefficient 3 – term
Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one that is simpler (usually shorter), according to a well-founded ordering. Examples include: Simplification of algebraic expressions, in computer algebra; Simplification of boolean expressions i.e. logic optimization
For example, multiplication is granted a higher precedence than addition, and it has been this way since the introduction of modern algebraic notation. [2] [3] Thus, in the expression 1 + 2 × 3, the multiplication is performed before addition, and the expression has the value 1 + (2 × 3) = 7, and not (1 + 2) × 3 = 9.
Note that even simple equations like = are solved using cross-multiplication, since the missing b term is implicitly equal to 1: =. Any equation containing fractions or rational expressions can be simplified by multiplying both sides by the least common denominator.
An algebraic equation is an equation involving polynomials, for which algebraic expressions may be solutions. If you restrict your set of constants to be numbers, any algebraic expression can be called an arithmetic expression. However, algebraic expressions can be used on more abstract objects such as in Abstract algebra.
The simplified equation is not entirely equivalent to the original. For when we substitute y = 0 and z = 0 in the last equation, both sides simplify to 0, so we get 0 = 0, a mathematical truth. But the same substitution applied to the original equation results in x/6 + 0/0 = 1, which is mathematically meaningless.