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Math lesson plan · 9th grade (Year 10 in England) · 45 minutes

Factorise fully: common factor first, then the bracket

Algebra

CCSS HSA.SSE.A.2England: GCSE Higher Algebra

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Factorise fully: common factor first, then the bracket.

  • 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; Difference of two squares; Factorise quadratics x² + bx + c

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; Difference of two squares; Factorise quadratics x² + bx + c). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Complete the factorisation: 10x⁵ + 35x⁴ + 30x³ = 5x³( … ). Type what goes inside the bracket. → 2x^2+7x+6Prompt: Divide each term by 5x³.
  2. Factorise: x² − 36 ((x + 6)² / (x + 6)(x − 6) / (x − 6)² / (x + 36)(x − 1)) → (x + 6)(x − 6)Prompt: This is a difference of two squares: A² − B² = (A + B)(A − B).
  3. Factorise: x² + x − 30 ((x + 6)(x − 5) / (x − 6)(x + 5) / (x − 30)(x + 1) / (x + 1)(x + 1)) → (x + 6)(x − 5)Prompt: Find two numbers that multiply to −30 and add to 1.

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a "think of a number" puzzle and ask the class to work out the starting number.
  • Share the objective: Factorise fully: common factor first, then the bracket. 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 fully: 2x² + 8x + 6
  • Step 1: 2(x² + 4x + 3)
  • Step 2: 2(x + 1)(x + 3)
  • Answer: 2(x + 1)(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.
  1. Factorise fully: 5x² − 45x + 100 ((x − 5)(x − 4) / 5(x² − 9x + 20) / 5(x − 5)(x − 4) / 5(x + 5)(x + 4)) → 5(x − 5)(x − 4)Prompt: Every coefficient is a multiple of 5: take it out first.
  2. Factorise fully: 2x² − 18 ((x + 6)(x − 3) / 2(x² − 9) / (2x + 3)(x − 3) / 2(x + 3)(x − 3)) → 2(x + 3)(x − 3)Prompt: Take out the common factor.

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.
  1. Factorise fully: 3x² + 21x + 36 ((3x + 3)(x + 4) / (x + 3)(x + 4) / 3(x − 3)(x − 4) / 3(x + 3)(x + 4)) → 3(x + 3)(x + 4)Prompt: Every coefficient is a multiple of 3: take it out first.
  2. Hiro says x³ − 16x = x(x² − 16) is fully factorised. What is the full factorisation? ((x + 4)(x − 4) / x(x + 4)(x − 4) / x(x − 4)² / x(x² − 16)) → x(x + 4)(x − 4)Prompt: A bracket can often be factorised further.

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

eurekami

Factorise fully: common factor first, then the bracket

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Factorise fully: 4x² + 36x + 80

    • A. 4(x² + 9x + 20)
    • B. (4x + 5)(x + 4)
    • C. 4(x − 5)(x − 4)
    • D. 4(x + 5)(x + 4)

  2. Question 2

    Factorise fully: 2x² − 50

    • A. 2(x² − 25)
    • B. 2(x + 5)(x − 5)
    • C. 2(x − 5)²
    • D. (2x + 5)(x − 5)

  3. Question 3

    Arjun says x³ − 4x = x(x² − 4) is fully factorised. What is the full factorisation?

    • A. x(x + 2)(x − 2)
    • B. x(x − 2)²
    • C. (x + 2)(x − 2)
    • D. x(x² − 4)

  4. Question 4

    Factorise fully: 5x² − 20

    • A. (5x + 2)(x − 2)
    • B. 5(x − 2)(x + 2)
    • C. (x + 2)(x − 2)
    • D. 5(x + 2)(x − 2)

  5. Question 5

    Factorise fully: 4x² − 16

    • A. (4x + 2)(x − 2)
    • B. 4(x + 2)(x − 2)
    • C. (x + 8)(x − 2)
    • D. 4(x − 2)²

  6. Question 6

    Kwame says x³ − 4x = x(x² − 4) is fully factorised. What is the full factorisation?

    • A. x(x² − 4)
    • B. x(x + 2)(x − 2)
    • C. (x + 2)(x − 2)
    • D. x²(x − 4)

  7. Question 7

    Factorise fully: 5x² + 25x + 30

    • A. (x + 3)(x + 2)
    • B. 5(x − 3)(x − 2)
    • C. 5(x + 3)(x + 2)
    • D. (5x + 3)(x + 2)

  8. Question 8

    Factorise fully: 2x² − 72

    • A. 2(x² − 36)
    • B. (2x + 6)(x − 6)
    • C. 2(x + 6)(x − 6)
    • D. 2(x − 6)²

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Answer key: Factorise fully: common factor first, then the bracket

  1. 1. D. 4(x + 5)(x + 4)

  2. 2. B. 2(x + 5)(x − 5)

  3. 3. A. x(x + 2)(x − 2)

  4. 4. D. 5(x + 2)(x − 2)

  5. 5. B. 4(x + 2)(x − 2)

  6. 6. B. x(x + 2)(x − 2)

  7. 7. C. 5(x + 3)(x + 2)

  8. 8. C. 2(x + 6)(x − 6)