What's the difference between Algebra and Mathematics

I recently got my class schedule in the mail, and instead of Math, I have Algebra. I asked my mom what it was, and she said that it was a slightly easier version of regular Mathematics, and when I asked her to elaborate, she simply said something to the effect of "You'll see". But, I'm the type of person who doesn't like not knowing something. So, I was wondering if someone here on Yahoo! would explain to me what Algebra is, and the difference between it and regular Mathematics, as well as whether or not it is easier than regular Mathematics.

Mathematics is a large subject. Different parts of it are given different names. Arithmetic is where you learn about different kinds of numbers, like whole numbers, fractions, decimals and so on and learn what they mean, how to use them and how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide them. That is probably what you are calling "regular mathematics". Algebra (or elementary algebra as it is often called) is usually the next part of mathematics that you study after arithmetic. In algebra, you can solve complicated arithmetic problems more easily than in arithmetic. This is accomplished by giving unknown numbers names, like x or y or z. So, the statement: an unknown number increased by 7 equals 10 could be written x + 7 = 10. Written that way with an equal sign it is called an equation. Finding the number that x must be for the equation true is called "solving the equation". You should see that x = 3 is the answer, because 3 + 7 = 10. Much of algebra is about learning to solve various kinds of equations.

It turns out that many real-world problems can be translated into equations, and if you know algebra you can then solve those problems.

This explanation is a bit over-simplified, but it should give you the basic idea.

Algebra is the branch of mathematics concerning the study of the rules of operations and relations, and the constructions and concepts arising from them, including terms, polynomials, equations and algebraic structures. Together with geometry, analysis, topology, combinatorics, and number theory, algebra is one of the main branches of pure mathematics.