Area Model for Expanding and Factoring

I’ve been helping out in a grade 10 applied math class during my prep time this month. One of the students I’ve been working with has become a master of algebra tiles for expanding and factoring quadratics.

We worked on expanding with the area model when it was not convenient to use tiles, and both processes are becoming quite natural.

Even a difference of squares with a large leading coefficient is not an issue for someone who understands zero pairs!

Confidence and skills are growing as we make more and more connections between concrete and visual representations.

I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for tiles!