algebra
Americannoun
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algebras
plural
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the branch of mathematics that deals with general statements of relations, utilizing letters and other symbols to represent specific sets of numbers, values, vectors, etc., in the description of such relations.
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any of several algebraic systems, especially a ring in which elements can be multiplied by real or complex numbers linear algebra as well as by other elements of the ring.
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any special system of notation adapted to the study of a special system of relationship.
algebra of classes.
noun
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a branch of mathematics in which arithmetical operations and relationships are generalized by using alphabetic symbols to represent unknown numbers or members of specified sets of numbers
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the branch of mathematics dealing with more abstract formal structures, such as sets, groups, etc
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of algebra
1535–45; < Medieval Latin < Arabic al-jabr literally, restoration
Explanation
If the math equation you're doing has letters or other symbols that stand for numbers, you're likely doing algebra. You probably took your first algebra class early in your high school years. The noun algebra comes from Arabic word al jebr, meaning "reunion of broken parts," which appeared in the title of mathematician al-Khwarizmi's famous book on equations. In algebra you use basic arithmetic like addition and subtraction, but the quantities you're working with are often unknown — that's why they're represented by letters. You might remember solving algebra equations that look like this: a(b + c) = ab + ac. The letters a, b, and c all represent a number.
Vocabulary lists containing algebra
English Words Derived from Arabic
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Expressions and Equations
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The prizes were meant to draw attention to how little we knew about math—no matter how many of us have suffered through high-school algebra.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
In the past few months, I’ve been tracking the Move 37s in math so closely that I might as well be the Journal’s algebra correspondent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026
In 2023 and 2024, UC’s faculty admissions board reversed that ruling, finding that three of the most popular data science classes were too light on algebra to count.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
He taught algebra at a Boyle Heights middle school and a Watts high school before joining Hackman in 2018, where he’s worked on multibillion-dollar projects transforming legacy studio lots for one of Hollywood’s largest landlords.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026
We worked on algebra until four o’clock and then made posters for about half an hour, using school supplies from the church.
From "Breaking Through" by Francisco Jiménez
Jones’s main focus continued to be Von Neumann algebras and their connections to other fields.
From Nature ● Sep. 28, 2020
Jones’s speciality, operator algebras, provided a powerful tool in the study of knots.
From Nature ● Sep. 28, 2020
In 1984, while working at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Jones came across some formulas that his nested algebras satisfied.
From Nature ● Sep. 28, 2020
Meanwhile, Gell-Mann continued pursuing the theory of quarks, refining his ideas about current algebras.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 6, 2019
Thus the various algebras which have been actually developed have, in the main, definite relations to the structure of the space world of our physical experience.
From International Congress of Arts and Science, Volume I Philosophy and Metaphysics by Various
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