Types of Equations

Algebra, as a topic in mathematics. Is being tacked right from primary school up to the highest level of learning. If you ask a junior mathematician what they understand by the term algebraic equation. A good number of them will give out an example that looks like this; 2x + 3x + 4x=. Yes, this is a form of an algebraic equation. I cannot refute since when you work on it, still you will come up with an answer. Many of the mathematicians have tackled some equations, but in the real sense good percentages of them do not understand or are well conversant with the types of equations. Funnily, some can never know the types of equations, but they can freely work on problems from varied types of equations.

Equation

Variables and constants when put together form an algebraic equation and it must have a symbol of equality to qualify as an algebraic equation.  Therefore an expression having the equal sign (=) is referred to as an equation. For example; 4a + 3b +7c = -7. With this rough background information. Let us discuss the types of equations that we are likely to encounter in any test or article:

1)    Linear Equations:

In this type of equation, the terms can be a constant or the product of a constant and one variable. A straight line kind of graph is as a result of two variables. Equation having two variables usually have a formula as; y = mx + c,

M is referred to as slope while c is the point at which it intercepts the y-axis.

2)    Radical Equations:

This is a very common type of an equation. How can you identify a radical equation? Very simple, if you see a square root sign anywhere accompanying the equation then it’s a radical equation. Radicle equations on many occasions are being handled by mathematicians at the secondary level of learning.  Below is an example of a radicle equation;

 √x+14=28

Have you tackled such kind of equation?

3)    Quadratic equations:

When you see or hear the term Quadra, what comes into your mind? Many of us will think about four in the first case. Yes grammatically Quadra, means four. Mathematically we have the quadratic equation. This type of equation in which one variable has got the variable with an exponent of 2. It usually has a structure like this, ax² + bx + c = 0, a ≠ 0 for example;

4x² + 6x – 74 = 0 is an example of a quadratic equation.

4)    Rational Equations:

Such kind of equations deals with rational expressions. The term rational expression may sound unfamiliar, yet you know it right? Let me shade some light. A rational expression is a fraction in which both the numerator and the denominator are polynomials.

X2/2 = X+2/4

These types of equations may tend to be hectic to solve. Why? Because they consume a lot of time as some involve the collection of like terms together in order to move on. But with factor calculator, all is made easy.