Let’s be honest — Algebra feels impossible for a lot of students. But it’s not because you’re “not a math person.” It’s because most people are never taught how to actually approach it.
At Senda Primera, we help students rebuild their confidence by starting at the real beginning — not chapter one of a textbook, but the core ideas that make problem-solving click.
If you’re stuck in Algebra I, here’s exactly where to start:
Before solving for “x,” you need to understand what “x” even means.
A variable is just a placeholder — it stands in for a number you don’t know yet.
Think of it like a blank on a form:
“I have __ apples.” → That blank is your variable.
Try this:
What number makes this statement true?
x + 3 = 7
Answer: x = 4.
Boom — that’s algebra.
You can’t move forward if you’re still shaky on negatives. Get comfortable with adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing with them.
Quick tip:
Same signs? Add.
Different signs? Subtract and keep the sign of the bigger number.
Examples:
-2 + (-3) = -5
-2 + 5 = 3
-4 × 6 = -24
Practice:
-4 + (-6) = ?
-10 – (-3) = ?
-2 × 6 = ?
An equation is like a scale — you have to keep both sides equal.
If
x + 4 = 9
Subtract 4 from both sides →x = 5
That’s the core of algebra:
Whatever you do to one side, do to the other.
No tricks. No shortcuts. Just balance.
You need to follow the correct order when solving more complex expressions.
PEMDAS stands for:
Parentheses
Exponents
M/D Multiply or Divide (left to right)
A/S Add or Subtract (left to right)
Try this:2 + 3 × (4² – 1)
→ Solve inside the parentheses first → then exponents → then multiply → then add.
Most students avoid word problems until the end of the chapter. Don’t do that.
The earlier you learn to translate real-world situations into equations, the easier everything gets.
Example:
“Sarah has 5 more than twice the number of marbles James has.”
Letx= James’s marbles → Sarah has:2x + 5