Algebra Song | Introduction to Variables Lyrics

We deal with concrete numbers in arithmetic

Like two plus two is four or ten minus four is six

Like ten divided by five is two or four times two is eight

These are contained in exact numbers we need to calculate

But in algebraic expressions we see something strange

Letters called variables have values that can change

Look at x plus two, what's the value of x

Well, that depends upon what we call the context

If x equals six, then the value is eight

Or if we say x is three, fives what we'll calculate

The expression's value changes based on the variable's value

And in this case, the sum will be any number plus two

Letters stand for numbers in algebra

They're called variables and they can change on ya

We can evaluate an expression's value

But it depends on the variable's value to make it true

Now let's explore algebraic expressions in our lives

Like shipping a cube-shaped box to my valentine

S to the third power is a value formula, S represents a side

It's the variable letting me know if my gift will fit inside

If the value of S two feet, the volume's eight cubic feet

My gift will fit inside. I hope she thinks it's sweet

Now to wrap my present up, I'll find the surface area

I know A equals 6s squared is the area formula

S is the variable, but since I already know the length's value is two

I'll plug in the two feet and then I know just what to do

Two squared is four, then times six is twenty-four

I'm using algebra to get my crush to like me even more

Letters stand for numbers in algebra

They're called variables and they can change on ya

We can evaluate an expression's value

But it depends on the variable's value to make it true

To identify parts of expressions, we use mathematical terms

Sum, product, factor, quotient, coefficient, term, are words we will learn

We find products when we multiply, quotients when we divide

But let's look at the vocab closer and take a deep dive

For example, let's describe the expression three times two plus four

We can describe it as the product of two factors

And if we look at just two plus four

We can either see it has the sum of two terms, or a single entity

The next word we'll review is the coefficient

Let's look at n plus n plus n plus n

We could say four times n or 4n without the sign

Four is called the coefficient

A number telling us how many times to multiply

Letters stand for numbers in algebra

They're called variables and they can change on ya

We can evaluate an expression's value

But it depends on the variable's value to make it true