Basic Operations

There are four basic operations utilized in college algebra, or just algebra in genereal. These are addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. There are multiple symbols for these and as you would imagine their operations are basic.

+ (addition) also known as summing is when two numbers are added together. As in the example of 2+2 = 4.

- (subtraction) also known as the difference is when one number is subtracted from another. As in the example 4 - 2 = 2

* (multiplication) also known as the product is when two numbers are multiplied together as in the example 2 * 3 = 6. It is real common to see this written as (2)(3) = 6 in algebra. Also, when dealing with variables there is no need to have any symbol between them. In the formula, 6x + xy + 2y = 0, can be written as 6*x + x*y + 2*y = 0. When there is a variable involved and it is butted up against another variable or a number the multiplication is implied.

/ (division) also known as the quotient is when one number is divided by another, as in the case 6/2 = 3. The number to the left of the / symbol is divided by the number on the right.

See Order of Operations for more insight as to the order in which these basic operations are performed.