Mathematics / Year 7 / Algebra

Curriculum content descriptions

generate tables of values from visually growing patterns or the rule of a function; describe and plot these relationships on the Cartesian plane (AC9M7A05)

Elaborations
  • plotting points from a table of values generated using simple linear functions and recognising patterns, such as the points lie on a straight line
  • discussing and using variables to create a general rule and use the rule to determine the value of the dependent variable for any given value of the independent variable; for example, plotting the value of the circumference of a circle for varying values of radius
  • using function machines to generate a table of ordered pairs using input and output values, plotting the relationships on a Cartesian plane and describing the graph in terms of shape
  • using diagrams and manipulatives to form linear growth patterns, representing these patterns in tables and describing the relationship in terms of the way the pattern is growing and in the context of the situation
General capabilities
  • Numeracy Numeracy
ScOT terms

Cartesian coordinates,  Tables (Data),  Sequences (Number patterns)

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 ...

Interactive

Expressions

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

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

Algebraic equations: video and teaching guide

This video uses an everyday scenario of three people sharing a taxi ride to explore algebraic thinking, and to apply that thinking to a financial context, drawing on reasoning and mathematical modelling. Use the video with the supporting teacher guide as a springboard to explore mathematical concepts. The teacher guide ...

Online

Finding the shortest path

In this lesson, students will experiment with different ways of creating a path between two points with algorithm design and generalizing patterns. From the patterns, they will be able to generate an algorithm for efficiently traveling through cities in a region.

Online

Patterns, rules and graphs

In this lesson, students play games and learn about space and location, the Cartesian plane, pattern recognition and reductive reasoning by playing games and thinking. Students create algebraic equations to describe their strategy. Follow this lesson with Graphs: formulas and variables, though both lessons can be taught ...

Online

Graphs: Year 7 – planning tool

This planning resource for Year 7 is for the topic of Graphs. Students are introduced to the four-quadrant Cartesian plane. The format of the coordinates should be explained and demonstrated; coordinates do not have to be an integer value.

Interactive

Simple coordinates game

This is an interactive resource about plotting and identifying points on the Cartesian plane. The resource can be used in one of two modes. In the View mode, the student can enter the coordinates, and the corresponding point is identified on the coordinate plane when the 'Plot' button is selected. In the Guess mode, the ...

Text

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

Terms

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

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 ...

Video

Patterns, primes and Pascal's Triangle

Are you intrigued by patterns? Check out Vi Hart as she explains how to visualise patterns in prime numbers, using Ulam's Spiral. Watch as Vi creates patterns, using Pascal's Triangle to explore relationships in number. See what happens when she circles the odd numbers. What rule does she use to create the final pattern?

Video

MathXplosion, Ep 33: On the grid

Explore graphs, grids and mapping with a focus on reading and writing location data using coordinate geometry. Grids and maps illustrate the concepts of parallel/perpendicular lines (axes or labelled number lines), ordered pairs and intersection points.

Video

MathXplosion, Ep 6: Zero the hero

What is the role of zero as a placeholder for large numbers such as 1 million, 1 billion and 1 trillion? Find out about the notion of place value and powers of ten through the act of bead counting.

Video

Numbers Count: What are factors?

What are factors? Watch as the jelly babies in this clip show you! What are the factors of 12? How many factors does the number 11 have? Try explaining to a friend what a prime number is.

Video

Catalyst: Take the Phi Golden challenge

The golden ratio, Phi: fact or fallacy? What about the Fibonacci sequence? We are told this ratio and its cousin Fibonacci occur everywhere in nature. Let's see which of these claims stacks up when put to the test.

Interactive

The divider: with or without remainders

Solve divisions such as 147/7 or 157/6 (some have remainders). Use a partitioning tool to help solve randomly generated divisions. Learn strategies to do complex arithmetic in your head. Split a division into parts that are easy to work with, use times tables, then solve the original calculation.

Online

Secondary mathematics: different representations

These seven learning activities, which focus on 'representations' using a variety of tools (software) and devices (hardware), illustrate the ways in which content, pedagogy and technology can be successfully and effectively integrated in order to promote learning. In the activities, teachers use different representations ...

Interactive

Syllabus bites: The language of Venn diagrams

Interactive activities supporting students learning to describe regions of a Venn diagram.

Interactive

Plotting Points in a Quadrant

An animated tutorial demonstrating how to locate and plot points on the Cartesian plane, given coordinates. An interactive quiz is included.