Algebra is one of the most important subfields of mathematics that students tend to struggle in. Algebra is the study of all things of a higher order (a b, c, etc.) and it is used to construct sentences that make sense. It includes topics like measurement, probability, statistics, and fraction.
Geometry is a subfield of maths that is concerned with the arrangement of shapes and their properties on a flat surface. Geometry includes everything from ordinary triangle shapes to the dodecahedron. This type of subfield is usually called algebraic geometry or geometric geometry. The study of geometry is important in the real world because it can help people draw accurate maps, devise structures like skyscrapers and buildings, and design streets and cities. Those who excel in geometry will often be excellent scientists and mathematicians.
Arithmetic can be thought of as an extension of algebra. It is a subfield of maths that makes use of some of the same symbols that you will see in algebra. This type of numerical data is used to carry out operations in science, technology, medicine, industry and banking. There are various different ways to represent different numbers and the way these are written will depend on the purpose for which they are being used.
One of the most common forms of shorthand used in applied mathematics is acronyms. Acronyms are words or phrases that have particular meanings to the people who use them. For example, Air Force cadets at the Air Force Academy are known as cadets, but they are officially referred to as simply cadets. Abbreviations can be used in place of fully names to create new language. An acronym for a mathematical expression is thus an abbreviation for the word “fact”.
The most common mathematical symbols are those that we recognise. You may have noticed that some schoolbooks tend to group similar objects together under a common name, such as units of measure, quantities, times tables and rates of time. There are no standard rules about the meaning of the common mathematical symbols, so any given term could have different meanings to different people. The symbols we recognise from our daily lives are also the ones that are used the most, so it comes as no surprise that many of us immediately come to terms with them.
When you are working out addition, subtraction, division and multiplication, you will almost certainly have seen the familiar add and sub symbols. These are used to give a mathematical definition to an item. An add symbol means that you are adding something onto another item, while a sub symbol means that you are taking something off. Multiplication is also a basic concept used in mathematics and many of us have heard of it at some point. A multiplication symbol usually means that you are multiplying one number by another, but some have additional meanings depending on the context in which they are used.
In computer applications, where dividing a large number into smaller ones is a requirement, the multiplication symbol often stands for the symbol for division by two. A dot (.) symbol will do this when a division by two needs to be carried out in a computer application. Shapes can also be used to carry out division and so these too have their own symbols in computer applications. The multiplication symbol in mathematical notation stands for the symbol for the actual number you are dividing by. For example, if you wanted to divide five hundred by two, you would type in (5, 2) and the resulting number would be (500, 500). Divisions by x and y are a little more complicated and so require a different set of symbols depending on the division you are performing.
