Here are the definitions of equation, expression, and inequality:
Equation
An equation is a mathematical statement that asserts the equality of two expressions. It contains an equal sign ("=") and indicates that the values on both sides of the equation are the same. For example, \(2x + 3 = 7\) is an equation, stating that the expression \(2x + 3\) is equal to \(7\).
Expression
An expression is a combination of numbers, variables, and operators (such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) without an equality sign. Expressions can be simplified and manipulated but do not have a true or false value on their own. For example, \(3x + 5\) or \(4a^2 - 7b + 2\) are both expressions.
Inequality
An inequality is a mathematical statement that compares two expressions and indicates that they are not necessarily equal. Inequalities use symbols such as "<" (less than), ">" (greater than), "≤" (less than or equal to), and "≥" (greater than or equal to). For example, \(x + 2 < 5\) is an inequality that shows the relationship between the two expressions, indicating that \(x + 2\) is less than \(5\).
These definitions provide a foundation for understanding basic concepts in algebra and mathematics.
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