Mathematics / Year 7 / Algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

recognise and use variables to represent everyday formulas algebraically and substitute values into formulas to determine an unknown (AC9M7A01)

Elaborations
  • linking variables to attributes and measures being modelled when using formulas, such as the area of a rectangle is equal to the length x width as \(A\;=\;l\;\times\;w\) or using \(p\;=\;6g\;+\;b\) to describe a total of points expressed as goals (worth \(6\) points) and behinds (worth one point)
  • interpreting and using formulas obtained from other sources; for example, maximum heart rates and target heart rates for moderate exercise
  • substituting numerical values for variables when using formulas and calculating the value of an unknown in practical situations; for example, calculating weekly wage \(W\) given base wage \(b\) and overtime hours \(h\) at \(1.5\) times rate \(r\), \(W\;=\;b+1.5\times h\times r\), using values for mass \(m\) and volume \(v\) to determine density \(d\) of a substance where \(d\;=\;\frac mv\)
  • using everyday formulas and their application to contexts on Country/Place, investigating the relationships between variables
General capabilities
  • Critical and creative thinking Critical and Creative Thinking
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Substitution,  Variables (Mathematics),  Equations

Online

reSolve: Algebra - Prisms and pyramids

This lesson engages students in investigating the relationship between the number of faces, edges and vertices of pyramids and prisms. Students construct their own 3D shapes, systematically record the properties of the shape and develop an algebraic formula to generalise the relationships discovered. The lesson is outlined ...

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Representing Patterns (Year 7) - Calculate

Patterns can be represented in several ways and this unit will explore five different representations.

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Algebra Tiles: Learning Sequence - Calculate

The following is a suggested teaching and learning sequence for using Algebra Tiles.

Video

Algebra basics video

Use this video as a springboard to introduce algebraic thinking, and to apply that thinking to a financial context, drawing on reasoning.

Online

Expressions, formulas and substitution

In the lesson ‘Formulating algebraic expressions’, students were introduced to variables and forming algebraic expressions. In this lesson, students continue to develop these skills and will explore substituting values into familiar and unfamiliar formulas to determine an unknown. Students explore substitution in a range ...

Downloadable

The wide wide world of sports betting

This lesson explores the difference between perfectly predictable events (like the roll of a die) and less certain events (such as sports). Students investigate mathematically how sports bookmakers create odds to guarantee themselves a profit and pay gamblers less for a win than they deserve. The lesson is outlined in ...

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Representing Patterns - Calculate

In this activity, students examine the representation of patterns, including as diagrams, charts and formulas.

Online

Formulating algebraic expressions

This lesson encompasses students’ introduction to formal algebraic concepts. Students will be introduced to the concept of variables and will explore the construction of algebraic expressions using concrete materials. Students explore a range of authentic contexts and hands-on materials in this lesson to ensure their initial ...

Downloadable

Algebra: Foundation to Year 9

This comprehensive resource describes the progression of algebra-related ideas and algebraic thinking. The resource demonstrates examples of relevant teaching strategies, investigations, activity plans and connected concepts in algebra including teaching and cultural implications.

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The Geometry and Algebra of Honeycomb - Calculate

This integrated unit of work explores the amazing structures of honeycomb by examining the properties of regular and irregular polygons and polyhedra. Students then move on to solve problems using geometric and algebraic reasoning.

Online

Introduction to algebra

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses the introduction of algebra. It is particularly relevant for introducing the idea of the use of a variable as a way of representing numbers. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student pages contain interactive questions for students ...

Online

Use variables: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Use variables. Students students recognise pronumerals and variables in formulas they have been exposed to. They are presented real-life scenarios and explore the relationship between variables using algebraic notation as a representation.

Online

TIMES Module 2: Statistics and Probability: data investigation and interpretation, year 7 - teacher guide

This is a 13-page guide for teachers. In this module, in the context of statistical data investigations, we build on the content of year 5 on measurement data and count data with many different observed values of counts. Because these data types are quantitative, investigation and interpretation include considerations of ...

Online

Geometric reasoning including parallel lines and angle sum of a triangle

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses geometry from the Australian Curriculum for year 9 students. It contains material on geometry and includes information regarding parallel lines and the angle sum of triangles. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student pages contain ...

Online

Probability

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses probability from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on the language of probability, experiments and counting, and the probability of an event, and explains the mathematical use of the terms 'random' and 'randomly'. ...

Online

The laws of arithmetic and their use in algebra

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that refers to algebraic notation, the laws of arithmetic and the use of these laws in algebra from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on algebraic notation, the commutative and associative laws, the use of brackets and the orders ...

Online

Expressing one quantity as a fraction of a second

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that addresses the expression of one quantity as a fraction of a second quantity from the Australian Curriculum for year 7 students. It contains material on using the unitary method to solve fraction problems. There are pages for both teachers and students. The student ...

Online

Life expectancy PowerPoint

This teacher resource is a PowerPoint presentation designed to address common student misunderstandings about life expectancy. It emphasises that life expectancy is an average, that most people live for much longer or shorter than their life expectancy and that, when life expectancy is low, it is mostly because of a very ...

Online

Countries of birth

This is a web resource that includes four student activities about data interpretation, accompanied by a teacher guide for each activity. Activities include investigating changes in country of birth by collecting and displaying data from students, their parents and grandparents and comparing the 1901 and 2006 Australian ...

Online

Australia's population: countries of birth - dataset

The dataset provides statistics about the estimated resident population, median age and sex ratio by countries of birth for the latest year of available data. It is periodically updated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The dataset is included in the list of related datasets on the page in MS Excel format.