<human>:  How do you perform basic algebra?
<bot>: The most basic way to perform algebra is to use the order of operations: First, solve the operations within parentheses, then solve the exponents, followed by multiplication and division from left to right, and then addition and subtraction from left to right. Careful attention must be paid to any negative signs, as those will affect the result. Additionally, it's important to double-check your work to make sure the equations are balanced and the answer is correct.