Mathematics / Year 7 / Algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

formulate algebraic expressions using constants, variables, operations and brackets (AC9M7A02)

Elaborations
  • generalising arithmetic expressions to algebraic expressions involving constants, variables, operations and brackets; for example, \(7+7+7=3\times7,\;x+x+x=3\times x\) noting that \(3x\) includes implied multiplication and recognising the difference between \(3x+4\) and \(3(x+4)\)
  • formulating algebraic expressions that represent mathematical relationships; for example, translating from words to symbols, “think of a number” type of activities
  • recognising and applying the concept of variable as something that can change in value, investigating the relationships between variables, and the application to processes on Country/Place, including how cultural expressions of First Nations Australians, such as storytelling, communicate mathematical relationships that can be represented as mathematical expressions
General capabilities
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Variables (Mathematics),  Algebraic terms

Online

TIMES Module 7: Number and Algebra: addition of whole numbers - teacher guide

This is a 16-page guide for teachers. This module introduces addition of whole numbers.

Online

TIMES Module 9: Number and Algebra: multiplication of whole numbers - teacher guide

This is a 23-page guide for teachers. This module contains a description of suitable models for multiplication, a discussion of the types of problems that require multiplication for their solution, and mental and written strategies for multiplication. The use of the commutative, associative and distributive laws is described. ...

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Mental computation

This is a website designed for both teachers and students that discusses methods of mental computation. In particular, applying the associative, commutative and distributive laws to aid mental and written computation is discussed. These are important ideas for the introduction of algebra. There are pages for both teachers ...

Interactive

Expressions

An animated tutorial with a focus on collecting 'like' terms to simplify expressions. An interactive quiz is included.

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

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 ...

Video

What are pixels?

Meet Kevin Systrom and Piper Hanson as they explain how digital images work. What are pixels, those tiny dots of light, made from? How are colours created and represented? What does Kevin say about the way mathematical functions are used to create different image filters. What is the difference between image resolution ...

Online

Formulate and manipulate expressions: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Formulate and manipulate expressions. Students find unknown quantities in numerical equations involving a combination of operations.

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 ...

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.

Interactive

Terms

An animated tutorial about terms and 'like' terms, followed by an interactive quiz.

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 ...

Interactive

Squirt: three containers

Examine the relationships between capacities of various containers. Look at three containers that may have different diameters, heights and shapes. Fill a container and squirt liquids between the containers to establish the proportional relationship. Work out the third 'unlinked' relationship from two known relationships. ...

Online

TIMES Module 14: Number and Algebra: fractions - teacher guide

This is a 16-page guide for teachers that provides an introduction to fractions. It covers ordering, the four basic arithmetic operations, cancelling, writing in simplest form, the use of the area model for multiplication and the use of the number line for ordering, adding and subtracting. A history of the development of ...

Online

TIMES Module 9: Measurement and Geometry: introduction to plane geometry - teacher guide

This is a 16-page guide for teachers. It provides an introduction to the initial ideas of plane geometry. Points and lines are introduced as fundamental objects in the study of geometry. Angles and parallelism are the initial areas of attention in a more formal approach to geometry that occurs from year 7.

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Imperial pie

This activity involves making a cake using a recipe in which the quantities of the ingredients required are measured using a variety of imperial units. To complete the recipe, students need to convert the imperial units to metric units in order to be able to use their metric measuring instruments. The activity serves to ...

Interactive

Surface area and volume

This is an interactive resource about investigating the surface areas and volumes of rectangular and triangular prisms. The resource can be used in one of two modes. In the Explore mode, the student can vary the height, width and depth of the prism, and the surface area and volume are calculated automatically. In the Compute ...

Online

TIMES Module 1: Number and Algebra: sets and Venn diagrams - teacher guide

This is a 22-page guide for teachers. The module provides an introduction to set notation and demonstrates its use in logic, probability and functions.

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BBC Bitesize: area and perimeter - revision

These illustrated information sheets revise ideas about perimeter and area of plane shapes including triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, trapeziums and some compound shapes. Examples with answers are included and students have access to test questions to assess their learning. This resource is one of a series of online ...

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Tessellating tiles

In this teaching resource students learn how to construct shapes that will tessellate (or tile) a plane area. Starting with a regular shape known to tessellate (square, equilateral triangle, hexagon), students apply geometrical transformations to the sides of the shape to create new shapes that tessellate. There are links ...