Expressions, like terms and substitution
Build expressions with algebra tiles, collect like terms, cancel zero pairs, then substitute a value for x.
- UK: Year 7
- France: grade 7
- Germany: grade 6
- Iran: grade 7
- Afghanistan: grade 8
- Syria: grade 6
- Palestine: grade 6
- Ukraine: grade 6
- Russia: grade 6
Guide
This studio follows KS3 algebra: writing and simplifying expressions by collecting like terms, and substituting numbers into expressions.
The tiles: a big square is x2, a long strip is x, and a small square is 1. A red tile is the negative of the same tile: a red strip is −x.
An algebraic expression such as 2x + 3 has two terms. In 2x, 2 is the coefficient and x is the variable; 3 is the constant.
like terms have the same letters with the same powers, so they are the same shape of tile: 3x and −x are like terms, but x and x2 are not.
A white tile and a red tile of the same shape make 0: a zero pair. Tap one, then the other, to take them off. Tiles of different shapes never cancel.
To substitute, flip the tiles: each strip shows the value of x. A red tile means take that amount away. Type your answers on the keypad under the tiles.