Algebra

There are 366 different Starters of The Day, many to choose from. You will find in the left column below some starters on the topic of Algebra.

A lesson starter does not have to be on the same topic as the main part of the lesson or the topic of the previous lesson. It is often very useful to revise and consolidate topic by using a starter based on a totally different topic. Some of the most popular starters are shown in the right column below.

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Algebra Starters:

Add 'em: Add up a sequence of consecutive numbers. Can you find a quick way to do it?

BTS: You have four minutes to write down as many equations as you can involving B, T and S.

Cars: Calculate the total cost of four cars from the information given.

Christmas Presents: Work out the total cost of five Christmas presents from the information given.

Connecting Rules: Give 20 rules connecting x and y given their values.

Khmer's Homework: Check a student's homework. If you find any of the answers are wrong write down a sentence or two explaining what he did wrong.

Lemon Law: Change the numbers on the apples so that the number on the lemon is the given total.

Less Than: Interpret a three part algebraic inequality.

Light Shopping: A lamp and a bulb together cost 32 pounds. The lamp costs 30 pounds more than the bulb. How much does the bulb cost?

Make a Connection: Give 20 rules connecting x and y.

Missing Lengths: Introduce linear equations by solving these problems about about lengths.

Nincompoop: Which algebraic expression is the odd one out?

Online Psychic: Work out why subtracting a two digit number from its reverse gives a multiple of nine.

PYA: You have four minutes to write down as many equations as you can involving the given letters.

Pyramid Puzzle: Arrange numbers at the bottom of the pyramid which will give the largest total at the top.

Rabbits and Chickens: There are some rabbits and chickens in a field. Calculate how many of each given the number of heads and feet.

Rail Weigh: Record the weights of the trains to work out the weight of a locomotive and a coach. A real situation which produces simultaneous equations.

Same Same: A problem involving two people's ages which can be solved using algebra.

Santa's Sleigh: Work out the number of clowns and horses given the number of heads and feet.

Sea Shells: A question which can be best answered by using algebra.

Simultaneous Occasions: A problem which can best be solved as a pair of simultaneous equations.

Stable Scales: Solve these balance puzzles by taking the same away from both sides. An introduction to linear equations.

Sum of the Signs: Each traffic sign stands for a number. Some of the sums of rows and columns are shown. What numbers might the signs stand for?

Summer Holidays: There are some children and donkeys on a beach. Together they have 25 heads and 64 legs. How many children? How many donkeys?

Think Back: A problem which can be answered by forming an algebraic equation then solving it.

THOAN: THOAN stands for 'Think of a number'

Ticker News: A Think Of A Number problem presented as a news ticker.

Complete Index of Starters

Featured Activity

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Hi-Low Predict

Similar to the 'Play Your Cards' right game.

Notes:

Students begin their study of algebra by investigating number patterns. Later they construct and express in symbolic form and use simple formulae involving one or two operations. They use brackets and apply algebra to real word problems.

See also the "Number Patterns", "Negative Numbers" and "Simultaneous Equations" Starters.

Algebra Teacher Resources:

eQuation Generator: An unlimited supply of linear equations just waiting to be solved.

Online Psychic: Work out why subtracting a two digit number from its reverse gives a multiple of nine.

Algebra Activities:

Algebra Pairs: The classic Pelmanism or pairs game requiring you to match equivalent expressions.

BIDMAS: A self marking exercise testing the application of BIDMAS, an acronym describing the order of operations used when evaluating expressions.

Brackets: Simple self marking exercises on expanding brackets,

Clouds: Can you work out which numbers are hidden behind the clouds?

Connecting Rules: If you are given the values of x and y which of these equations is correct?

eQuation Generator: An unlimited supply of linear equations just waiting to be solved.

Equations: Solve these simple algebraic equations.

Factorising Quadratics: A drill and practice exercise about factorising quadratics.

Lemon Law: Change the numbers on the apples so that the number on the lemon is the given total.

Less Than: Solve inequalities in this self marking quiz.

Missing Lengths: Find the unknown lengths in the following diagrams and learn some algebra at the same time.

Online Psychic: Work out why subtracting a two digit number from its reverse gives a multiple of nine.

Quadratic Equations: Solve these quadratic equations.

Recurring Decimals: Find the pairs of whole numbers that give the given quotients.

Stable Scales: Ten balance puzzles to prepare you for solving equations.

Substitution: Evaluate the algebraic expressions.

Think of a Number: Guess the number the children are thinking about?

Algebra Investigations:

Crossing the River: Two men and two boys want to cross a river and they only have one canoe which will only hold one man or two boys.

Lamp posts: What is the greatest number of lamp-posts that could be needed for a given village?

Steps: Investigate this growing sequence of steps.

Transum Calendar: Investigate the connection between the numbers in a T shape drawn on this month's calendar.

Algebra Videos:

Quadratic Formula Song: A song from Math Upgrade dot com.

Simultaneous Equations: This video demonstrates how to solve simultaneous equations by elimination.

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Strategy Games

Strategy game that requires some mental arithmetic or some logic.. So far this activity has been accessed 12776 times and nobody yet has earned a Transum Trophy for completing it.

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