NOSTT/Projects/Forms 1-3/Mathematics/Simplifying Algebraic Expressions

CLASS: FORM 3

TOPIC: SIMPLIFYING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

DURATION: ONE PERIOD (45 minutes)

Preknowledge

Recall the rules of Directed Numbers Identify the components of an Algebraic Expression

Objectives

At the end of the lesson students should be able to Identify the like terms in an algebraic expression Add/subtract the like terms to reduce the expression

Web Resources

Step by Step Algebra http://www.wisc-online.com Algebra Help http://www.helpalgebra.com/onlinebook/simplifyingalgebraicexpressions.htm

Activity

An algebraic expression would be displayed on the board and students would be asked to determine: How many terms make up the expression Identify the variable, coefficient and power of each term

Key points

To simplify an algebraic expression operate on the coefficients of the like terms

Definition

Like terms - terms which have the same variable and the same power.

Five algebraic expressions will be presented to the students one at a time where students are asked to identify the like terms and put these like terms into groups by using brackets. Of these five problems, there will be one case where there are no like terms.

Activity

Students are asked to work in groups of five where they are given cards with terms and expressions and are asked to: Identify the like terms Group them into brackets Operate on their coefficients to reduce the expression

Case Study

In the case where the expression has no like terms, what do we do?

Assessment

Groups are asked to present their findings and strategy for simplifying the expressions Students are presented with five more problems to work on individually

Summary

Students are selected at random and are given the task of reviewing the salient points of the lesson by guided questioning. Students are directed to the websites stated above