Factorising expressions III

Factorising expressions III

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
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Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
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Further Resources
This task is about factorising algebraic expressions.

Question 1Change answer

Factorise each of the following algebraic expressions.
a) 3x + 6 = 
 
b) 18x - 6 = 
 
c) 5 - 15x = 

Question 1Change answer

Factorise each of the following algebraic expressions.
d) 2x2 - 3x = 
 
e) -5x2 + 4x = 
 
f) 12x2 - 4x = 
Task administration: 
This task can completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Number and Algebra, Equations and expressions
Keywords: 
algebraic expressions, factorise
Description of task: 
Students factorise a series of algebraic expressions.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Using symbols and expressions to think mathematically, sets 6-7
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
    Y10 (08/2001)
a) 3(x + 2) difficult
b) 6(3x - 1) very difficult
c) 5(1 - 3x) difficult
d) x(2x - 3) difficult
e) x(-5x + 4) or –x(5x – 4) difficult
f) 4x(3x - 1) 
x(12x - 4) or 4(3 × 2 - x)		 2 correct - very difficult 
1 correct - difficult

NOTE: Accept algebraically equivalent expressions, e.g., c) 5(-3x + 1), e) x(4 - 5x) etc.

Diagnostic and formative information: 
 

Common error

Likely reason

a) 
b) 
c) 
d) 
e) 
f) 

9x
12x
-10x or 10x
-x2 or x2
-x2
8x2 or 8x

Attempts to add/subtract equations without following algebraic rules.