GMy GYM MathMOE-aligned Primary Maths
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P6 · Topic

Basic Algebra

A letter stands for a number. Write and simplify carefully.

Big Idea
A letter stands for a number. Write and simplify carefully.
yy32y + 3y stands for one unit
Treat the letter as one bar.
Key points
  1. 13n means 3 × n. n + n = 2n, not n².
  2. 2Simplify like terms only: 2a + 3a = 5a.
  3. 3Substitute values in brackets to avoid errors.
  4. 4Write expressions from word phrases before solving.
Worked example
  1. 14a = 4 × 5 = 20.
  2. 220 + 7 = 27.
Answer: 27
GYM Teaching Tip
Read the phrase, then write the algebra. Do not skip to a number.
See the question behind this example
If a = 5, find the value of 4a + 7.