Introducing Algebra

Today we started algebra in several grade 9 classes. We started by using algebra tiles to make some pictures.

Next we eliminated all the zero pairs and simplified the expressions into polynomials.

We talked about the vocabulary of algebra, introducing the words “like terms”, “coefficient”, “constant”, “variable”, “exponent”, “trinomial”, “binomial”, “monomial”, “polynomial” and then started creating some polynomials, then adding polynomials together and combining like terms, and simplifying.

Later we had challenge questions to create the following:

(Binomial)+(binomial)=(trinomial)

(trinomial)+(trinomial)=(monomial)

With tiles the algebra is more tangible and less abstract.