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Students recap simplifying expressions by collecting like terms using the algebra pyramids. It may be necessary to remind students that the sign to the left of a term determines whether it is positive or negative. For instance, 3x – 2y has a +3x and a -2y term. Understanding this early on makes it much easier when expanding brackets with a negative on the outside.
Prompts / Questions to consider
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When simplifying algebraic expressions, students should be taught:
When students are comfortable applying the rules to simplify traditional questions, they should connect this to other areas of mathematics, such as finding factors of algebraic expressions, the area or volume of shapes, and compound measures for the more able students.
Prompts / Questions to consider
The plenary challenges students to consider the different ways of writing the same expression. This activity takes between 5 and 8 minutes and is best completed on mini-whiteboards so the teacher can assess progress.
Prompts / Questions to consider
More able students could use index notation to simplify powers and roots. Less Able students should avoid questions with powers and brackets.
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