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Algebraic Equations
There are two kinds of equations: identities and conditional equations. An identity is an equation that is true for all values of the unknown involved. The identity sign is used in place of the equal sign to indicate an identity.
Thus, 
are all identities because they are true for all values of x, y, or z. A conditional equation is one that is true only for some particular value(s) of the literal number(s) involved. A conditional equation is 3x + 5 = 8, because only the value x = 1 satisfies the equation. When the word equation is used by itself, it usually means a conditional equation.
The root(s) of an equation (conditional equation) is any value(s) of the literal number(s) in the equation that makes the equation true. Thus, 1 is the root of the equation 3x + 5 = 8 because x = 1 makes the equation true. To solve an algebraic equation means to find the root(s) of the equation.
The application of algebra is practical because many physical problems can be solved using algebraic equations. For example, pressure is defined as the force that is applied divided by the area over which it is applied. Using the literal numbers P (to represent the pressure), F (to represent the force), and A (to represent the area over which the force is applied), this physical relationship can be written as the algebraic equation P – F/A .
When the numerical values of the force, F, and the area, A, are known at a particular time, the pressure, P, can be computed by solving this algebraic equation. Although this is a straightforward application of an algebraic equation to the solution of a physical problem, it illustrates the general approach that is used. Almost all physical problems are solved using this approach.
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