A variable is used to represent something with an unknown value. Two
common variables are
x and y
.
The
line between the 3 and the 4 is called the fraction bar. A fraction bar
means to divide the top number by the bottom number.
In this equation, x is called the variable. With variables,
if the letter is directly next to the number (called
the numerical co-efficient) you multiply. 3x means 3*x,
but 34 means thirty-four.
Grouping
symbols are things like parentheses() and brackets[].
When parentheses are placed around a number or variable,
and there is a number or variable on the
outside, you multiply the two numbers together:
4(3) =4*3.
A dot in the middle of the line, like this 
,
is used to indicate multiplication in algebra.34=12.