Checking and securing understanding of simplifying | Maths

Starter quiz

Collect the following like terms: $3a + 5a = \square a$

'8' ✓
Simplify the following: $4b - 2b = \square b$

2 ✓

6

8
Which statement is true?

$5c^2 + 3c^2 = 8c^2$ ✓

$5c^2 + 3c^2 = 2c^2$

$5c^2 + 3c^2 = 8c^4$
Simplify the following: $7d - 4(d+2)= 3d$ ______

'-8' ✓
Simplify the following: $9f - 5f = \square f$

'4' ✓
Simplify the following: $5j - 2j +j^2= \square$

$j^2+3j$ ✓

$j^2-3j$

$4j$

Exit quiz

Which of these equations is correct?

$2(x + 3) + 4x = 6(x+1)$ ✓

$2(x + 3) + 4x = 6(x+3)$

$2(x + 3) + 4x = 6(x-1)$
Simplify the following: $3y - 2y + y = \square y$

'2' ✓
Simplify the following: $5x + 5 - 3x = \square x + 5$

'2' ✓
Simplify the following: $5(x - 2) - 2(x - 2) = \square(x - 2)$

3 ✓

7

5
Simplify the following: $7(3x + 4) - (3x + 4) = \square(3x + 4)$

'6' ✓
Simplify the following: $7(x + 2) - 5(x + 2) = \square(x + 2)$

'2' ✓

Worksheet

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Lesson Details

Key learning points

Like terms and their coefficients can be identified.
Like terms can be represented using a bar model.
Like terms can be collected together, paying careful attention to coefficients.
Expressions are easier to read once you have collected all the like terms.

Common misconception

It can be hard to spot like terms where there are multiple variables with exponents. Therefore opportunities to simplify by collecting like terms can be missed.

When multiplying variables together, write the variables in alphabetical order. This will make it easier to identify like terms.

Keywords

Like terms - Like terms are terms that have the same set of variables and corresponding exponents.
Simplify - Simplifying is to write an expression in a more efficient and compact form without affecting the value of the original expression. Fully simplifying means the expression cannot be simplified further.