Year 9 - Maths
Checking and securing understanding of the distributive law with algebraic terms
Expressions and formulae
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit develops pupil understanding of formulae and how to rearrange them. Pupils will learn how to recognise and manipulate binomials and learn to recognise the difference of two squares.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use the distributive law to multiply an expression by a term.
Key Notes
- The distributive law can be understood using an area model.
- The distributive law can help us multiply an expression by a term.
- The expression may contain any number of terms.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Distributive law: The distributive law says that multiplying a sum is the same as multiplying each addend and summing the result.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils forget to multiply every term in the bracket by the term outside the bracket.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.
The distributive law can be understood using an area model. The distributive law can help us multiply an expression by a term.
2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Distributive law'
The distributive law says that multiplying a sum is the same as multiplying each addend and summing the result. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.
3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.
Mistake: Pupils forget to multiply every term in the bracket by the term outside the bracket. Correction: Remind pupils about the distributive law with numerical examples, e.g. 4(3 + 7) and show that this is not equivalent to 12 + 7. Using algebra tiles can also help pupils to make sense of this skill.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Additive relationships Study Guide
- Changing the subject to suit the context Study Guide
- Changing the subject with more complex formula Study Guide
- Changing the subject with simple formula Study Guide
- Checking and securing solving linear equations Study Guide
- Difference of two squares Study Guide
- Evaluating expressions with and without changing the subject Study Guide
- More complex binomial products Study Guide
- Multiplicative relationships between terms Study Guide
- Problem solving with expressions and formulae Study Guide
- The product of two binomials Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 9 Maths guide library.