Relational algebra is a way of organizing and manipulating data in a database. It is like playing with pieces of a puzzle. With relational algebra, you can break up data into pieces, move the pieces around, combine the pieces back together, and figure out patterns within the data. To do this, you use symbols such as ∩ (intersect), ∪ (union), and - (difference). These symbols will help you create queries (questions) to answer about the data. Think of these symbols as tools to help you play with the data and figure out the answers you need.