Math lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes
Factorise four-term expressions by grouping
Algebra
CCSS HSA.SSE.A.2England: GCSE Higher Algebra
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Factorise four-term expressions by grouping.
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Take out the greatest common factor of a polynomial
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Balance scales or a balance drawing, Algebra tiles, Function machine cards, Mini whiteboards and pens, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 5 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Take out the greatest common factor of a polynomial). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Complete the factorisation: 12x⁵ + 12x⁴ − 6x³ = 6x³( … ). Type what goes inside the bracket. → 2x^2+2x-1Prompt: Divide each term by 6x³.
- What is the greatest common factor of 6xy and 3x²y? (6xy / 3xy / 3x²y / 3x) → 3xyPrompt: Find the HCF of the numbers.
- Factorise by taking out −5x: −25x² + 30x = −5x( … ). Type what goes inside the bracket. → 5x-6Prompt: Divide each term by −5x.
Hook · 5 min
- Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
- Share the objective: Factorise four-term expressions by grouping. Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 10 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: Factorise by grouping: x³ + 3x² − 2x − 6
- Step 1: x²(x + 3) − 2(x + 3)
- Step 2: (x² − 2)(x + 3)
- Answer: (x² − 2)(x + 3)
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 10 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- Factorise by grouping: x³ − 6x² − 3x + 18 ((x² − 3)(x − 6) / (x² − 6)(x − 3) / (x² − 3)(x + 6) / (x − 6)(x − 3)) → (x² − 3)(x − 6)Prompt: Group the first two terms and the last two terms.
- Factorise: xy + 1x + 1y + 1 ((x − 1)(y − 1) / (x + 1)(y + 1) / (x + 1)(y − 1)) → (x + 1)(y + 1)Prompt: Take x out of the first pair and a number out of the second pair.
You do: independent practice · 10 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 5 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Factorise by grouping: 3x² + 18x − 2x − 12 ((3x − 2)(x + 6) / (x − 2)(x + 6) / (3x + 2)(x − 6) / (3x − 2)(x − 6)) → (3x − 2)(x + 6)Prompt: Take 3x out of the first two terms.
- Factorise: xy + 5x − 4y − 20 ((x + 5)(y − 4) / (x − 4)(y − 5) / (x + 4)(y − 5) / (x − 4)(y + 5)) → (x − 4)(y + 5)Prompt: Take x out of the first pair and a number out of the second pair.
Watch out for
- Doing an operation to one side of an equation but not the other.
- Reading 3x as 3 + x, or thinking x always stands for one particular number.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Take out the greatest common factor of a polynomial.
- Use concrete materials: balance scales or a balance drawing.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/math/grade-9.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder