Question

what is algebra!

Answer 1

According to wikipedia, it is "the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures."

Answer 2

When u first encounter it, the use of letters such as x and y to represent unknown quantities.

Turns out that these letters obey the same rules that govern normal arithmetic, for example, 4 + 3 = 7 and so does 3 + 5 and so does x + y = z or y + x = z.

Later on however, you will see systems of algebra where the "letters" or unknown quantities do not necessarily obey all of the rules of normal arithmetic and then we talk about "algebras" and the rules are called axioms.

Investigating these structures and results that flow from applying the rules aplicable to a given structure is algebra.