algebra

noun al·ge·bra \ ˈal-jə-brə \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of algebra

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

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algebraist

play \-ˌbrā-ist\ noun

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See algebra defined for kids

Recent Examples of algebra from the Web

Decker then goes to his locker to retrieve a semi-automatic pistol, burns the remaining contents and kills two other faculty members before taking his algebra class hostage.

— tyler mccarthy, Fox News, "Why Stephen King's school shooter book 'Rage' is out of print, and a copy costs $500," 14 May 2018
Cox played as a freshman at Fairdale High School during the 1994-95 season, transferred to Iroquois as a sophomore and ultimately gave up the sport when a bad grade in algebra sidelined him from the team for six weeks.

— jason frakes, The Courier-Journal, "Trainer Brad Cox grew up at Churchill Downs. Now he's got his first shot at Kentucky Oaks," 20 Apr. 2018
If all goes as planned, by the time the students reach fifth grade, many will be taking pre-algebra.

— craig harris, azcentral, "Has Basis used Arizona tax money to expand in Texas, Washington, D.C.?," 11 May 2018
Another day of struggling, in a classroom packed with more than 60 kids, to study logic and algebra in Spanish.

— kevin sullivan, Washington Post, "Lulu’s choice," 5 Apr. 2018
When the shooting broke out at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, Mei-Ling Ho-Shing, 17, hid behind her desk in her algebra class and held the hand of a foreign-exchange student from Dubai, who was crying.

— lisa j. huriash, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Stoneman Douglas student Mei-Ling Ho-Shing: 'I'm going to be a walking story'," 4 Apr. 2018
Boiled down, this tortured formula measures three years worth of results of tests in English for grades 4-10, math for grades 4-8 and algebra in grades 8-9.

— lauren ritchie, OrlandoSentinel.com, "'High impact' teacher definition blurred by Department of Education mumbo jumbo," 23 Mar. 2018
Students who had failed algebra were randomly assigned either to online or to face-to-face recovery courses.

— susan dynarski, New York Times, "Online Courses Are Harming the Students Who Need the Most Help," 19 Jan. 2018
Her patience also extended to explaining the intricacies of high-school algebra problems to her impatient younger daughter, who went to her in tears with homework assignments that seemed impossible.

— lorraine v. murray, ajc, "Cherishing the prayers of a patient mother," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'algebra.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.