DID YOU KNOW....that you've been doing Algebra since kindergarten?  Remember 3 + ___ = 5 ???  That ___ is a variable!    Now, because you're ready for it, we use letters instead!  In Algebra, that problem will look like this:   3 + y = 5
 
 

There are some common variables... like   x, y, z, a, b, c, m, n, p, q, k        However, just about any letter will do.
 
 

There are also some BAD variables to use because they can be confused with numbers:
                    l    (looks like a one)
                    o    (looks like a zero)
                    b    (looks like a six sometimes)
                    t     (looks like a plus sign unless you put a curl on the bottom)
                    s    (can look like a 5)
                    x    (only if you don't break the habit of multiplying with an 'x')
                    z    (can look like a 2)