Algebra
Just the word Algebra frightens children and they feel it is something harder than it really is.
Children have been doing algebra since year 1 but haven't realised it 6+=10 is a simple form of algebra.
It is all about solving puzzles with letters, numbers and symbols. Replace the with A in the question above and they suddenly feel it is really difficult.
It is about finding the unknown by using whatever information you are given.
Equations are number sentences where one side equals the other
4 + 4 = 10 - 2
In this case, we know that 4 + 4 = 8 and 10 - 2 = 8, so both sides of this equation are equal, which means it is correct.
Children are often given equations with numbers missing in SATs tests, for example this question may be given to a child in Year 4 or 5:
50+ =90-2
Children need plenty of practice in these, as they need to be aware that the process involves understanding the inverse.
For the above equation, a child would need to work out that 90 - 2 is 88. They would then need to think about what they should add to 50 to make 88 (or work out 88 - 50 = 38).
They may also be given equations involving multiplication and division, for example: 9 x = 39 + 6
They would need to work out 39 + 6 which is 45, then divide 45 by 9 to make 5, which is the number that goes in the gap
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One of the rules we have to remember with Algebra is that you don't write in the x sign, so if a number is next to a letter it simply means x e.g. 3 A = 3 x A
5 B = 5 x B
Harder equations may have gaps on both sides,
for example:
4 x = 80 -
In this case, there will be more than one answer and various ways of approaching finding an answer.
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· A child could put any number into the second gap, for example: 80 - 70 which would equal 10.
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· They would then need to think about whether they could multiply 4 by any number to make 10.
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· Once they realised this was not possible they would need to find a number to take away from 80 that would produce a multiple of 4.
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· So they could do 80 - 60 which equals 20, then work out that 20 divided by 4 is 5 and therefore put 5 in the other gap.
Some teachers will encourage children to see how many different possibilities they can find to complete the above equation, which helps to develop children's investigative skills in maths.