CHECKING AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

You can sometimes use substitution to check algebraic

steps quickly.

You can often do this check mentally.

TASK 1 Use substitution

Substitute the number for the variable. Compare the value of the factored and the expanded forms.

a 3(y + 4) = 3y + 12 b 2p(p  4) = 2p2  6p

Let y = 2 to check if the expansion is correct. Let p = 5 to check if the expansion is correct.
LHS = 3(2 + 4) RHS = 3 × 2 + 12 LHS = 2 × 5 × (5  1) RHS = 2 × 52  6 × 5
= _________ = _________ = _________ = _________.

The values of the factored form and the The values of the factored form and the
expanded form are the same / different. expanded form are the same / different.
Is the expansion incorrect? _________ Is the expansion incorrect? _________

TASK 2 Find the errors

At least two errors have been made in each of these expansions. Briefly describe the errors.

a 3y2(5y + 2z) = 15y2 + 6y2z

b 2(5y3  z)  5y(2y2 + z) = 10y3  2 + 10y3  5yz

= 20y3  2  5yz
TASK 3 Derive the areas then check

Write an expression for the area of each shape. Simplify your answer where possible. Check your
expression by substituting numbers for the variables in each shape.

1 1
a Area of a trapezium = × h(a + b) b Area of a rhombus = × xy
2 2
(x and y are the lengths of the diagonals).

h = ____________
x = ____________
a = ____________
y = ____________
b = ____________
1 Area =
Area = × _____(_____+ _____)
2
=

1 d The area of a parallelogram is the product of

c Area of triangle = bh
2 the perpendicular height and the base.

Perpendicular height = _________

Perpendicular height = ____________
Base = _________
Base = ___________
Area =
Area =