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Tap the category icons above to see details of the topics in Algebra Tutor.
The hearts indicate the number of sections in each topic.
Meet some of the notation used in algebra, see what makes up an algebraic ‘term’, and begin simplifying terms.
See how ‘sums’ are made up of ‘terms’, try simplifying expressions by ‘collecting like terms’, and meet some of the names given to particular types of terms and expressions.
Learn to recognise what each operation in an expression is acting on. See how the operations in an expression can be thought of as happening in a particular order, and, starting with x, apply a sequence of operations to build up a given algebraic expression.
Operate on given expressions to ‘cancel’ things out until we ‘get back to x’ on its own. This topic deals only with expressions, but the skills developed here are important in solving equations.
See how to ‘expand’ a single bracket that is being multiplied by another factor, then practise number and simplification skills as we continue expanding brackets within expressions.
An introduction to factorisation. Learn how to ‘take out’ common factors from the terms in a sum to express that sum as a product of factors.
See how to ‘expand’ brackets when there is more than one bracket factor being multiplied together, including terms with a squared bracket factor, and expressions with more than one term to expand.
An introduction to solving equations. Meet the underlying concepts and practise number skills as we attempt linear equations that can be solved in a single step.
See how to solve linear equations by applying a sequence of operations to each side, and practise number skills as we continue solving.
Learn how to solve equations in which the expressions on each side both have a term containing the unknown.
Learn to solve equations that have the unknown in a denominator, including when the unknown is a factor of the denominator, and when the denominator is a sum.
‘Simultaneous’ means ‘at the same time’. Learn to solve linear equations in more than one unknown, by using more than one equation simultaneously.
Change the ‘subject’ of a formula by applying operations to it, so that it becomes equal to something else.
Substitute values into a formula and simplify the result, including giving answers in terms of τ and π.
Practise times tables, negatives, fractions, decimals, and powers.
Deepen your understanding of exponents (also known as ‘powers’ or ‘indices’). Meet some ‘laws of exponents’ and see what zero and negative exponents mean. (We’ll deal mainly with integer exponents here.)
The next set of topics we hope to release are about quadratic expressions and equations. We intend these to cover: factorisation of quadratic polynomials into double brackets (including the difference of two squares); completing the square; simplifying expressions that include quadratics within algebraic fractions; using these skills, as well as the quadratic formula, to solve quadratic equations; and the solving of simultaneous equations that include quadratics.
We have done significant development on solving trigonometric equations and hope to create topics on this, as well as on the use of trigonometric formulae and identities.
One topic on exponents is already included in Algebra Tutor and we have at least one more planned, as well as topics introducing logarithms, their rules, and their use in simplifying and solving equations.
The Algebra Tutor app was created by former Secondary School Mathematics Teacher, Dave J Green, and Software Engineer, Jonathan Green. After three and a half years of full-time development, we were pleased to release Version 1.0 in the summer of 2021.
Algebra Tutor is designed to help students develop more confidence with algebra, so that its use does not become a barrier to them as they explore the fascinating world of mathematics. The app aims to prevent misunderstandings of algebraic notation and facilitate mastery of common algebraic skills.
We hope to continue developing Algebra Tutor by adding many more topics and features in the future. Unfortunately, nobody has been paying us to make a free, educational app; so, please consider making in-app purchases to enable us to keep going!