Compare one thing, to another thing, using a mathematical formula.
Now take two formulas, and see if you can miss mash them together, in order to find out new things.
Repeat.
Algebra.
“Algebra is a merry science. We go hunting for a little animal whose name we don’t know, so we call it ‘x’. When we bag our game, we pounce on it and give it its right name.” ~ Albert Einstein