Expanding on algebra

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Recalling special products or using an acronym like FOIL can be useful when expanding brackets. However, it is useful to explore other methods that may help us to expand algebraic expressions.

Cartoon of a boy expanding algebra

Explore

Take a quick look at ABC Education for a review of Algebraic Terms1 and PhET for interactives that explain how to Expand Brackets2 when simplifying expressions.

Your tasks

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In a pair or group design a seminar presentation on the algebraic techniques used to simplify expressions.

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Take a look at this interactive spreadsheet for a different way to interpret the binomial expansions.

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Design your own acronym for expanding the binomial products. Record a demonstration and publish your method in this task.

Syllabus links | Teacher notes (DOCX 42kB)

Links

  1. http://education.abc.net.au/home#!/media/2119213/algebra-basics
  2. https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/area-model-algebra/latest/area-model-algebra_en.html