Ideas in this flowchart

• Algebra enables generalization when numerical values are difficult to use directly.
• Real problems may involve limitations in numerical values.
• Numerical values may be unavailable.
• Numerical values may vary across space or time.
• Numerical values may be uncertain.
• Algebra represents quantities symbolically.
• Symbolic quantities can be manipulated into relationships.
• These relationships can be reused under different conditions.
• Generalization goes beyond solving one numerical case.
• Generalization can produce a formula.
• Generalization can produce a procedure.
• The resulting formula or procedure applies to many cases.