Algebra is the fundamental approach to critical thinking skills. Engineers spend their entire living in a world of problems. They are taught to start by approaching a successful outcome by thinking in and algebraic manner. This starts by asking ourselves what do we know? Secondly, what do we not know? This leads us to determine a procedure to jump from problem to solution. This can be used to determine which product offers the best price. It can also help us analyze complex situations that we really are stumped with. Algebra is one of the core math skills used by successful people across the global economy. Basic word problems lead us to the fundamental use of algebra in trading goods and services. Algebra is based on the use of arithmetic (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). Algebra takes it a step further by adding an unknown usually denoted by the symbol x. The letter Xx is really popular. The symbol or variable is just a place holder telling us, that is what we are trying to find or determine. Almost all algebra involves equations. Equations are math statements that tell us that two things have the same value (are equal). The knowns help us find the unknowns. For example 8 + 3 = x or more advanced where x - 3 = 8.

The biggest thing to remember, when working with algebra, is that the unknown symbols have very different values in different problems. The unknown symbols are always constant when in the same problem. For example if you have a symbol x listed two or more times, x has the same value throughout the entire problem. The algebra worksheets found below cover a wide range of skills that start in late elementary school and pivot all the way to complex high school skills. The topics are arranged alphabetically to make them easier to find. While we would like to arrange them by difficulty (grade level) we find it paramount to allow teachers an easier way to find what they need because there is a great deal of carry over between levels.