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      Checking understanding of expressions and equations

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can generalise a situation using words to express what is happening.

      Key learning points

      1. Linear sequences can be generated from a rule.
      2. Linear sequences that follow a rule can be described in words.
      3. Changing one part of a situation can affect other parts.

      Keywords

      • Generalise - To generalise is to formulate a statement or rule that applies correctly to all relevant cases.

      Common misconception

      Pupils might think that a pattern increasing by 3 each time has the rule add 3.

      Pupils should think about the number of lines per square and the relationship between squares and lines. Avoid consecutive patterns to start

      Teacher tip

      Get students to draw the square pattern in their own way first. Give discussion time to explore different ways of drawing the pattern and the similarities. Students should be thinking about how to make any pattern not how to get to the next pattern.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the numbers with the correct statements.

      Correct Answer:10,is a multiple of 5

      is a multiple of 5

      Correct Answer:9,is a multiple of 3

      is a multiple of 3

      Correct Answer:14,is a multiple of 7

      is a multiple of 7

      Correct Answer:16,is a multiple of 4

      is a multiple of 4

      Q2.
      Which calculation represents '6 lots of 5'?

      $$6+5$$
      $$6-5$$
      $$6\div5$$
      Correct answer: $$6\times 5$$

      Q3.
      Given that $$21\times 17=357$$ which of the following are true?

      $$21\div 17=357 $$
      $$17=357-21$$
      Correct answer: $$357\div 17=21$$
      Correct answer: $$17=357\div 21$$

      Q4.
      Look at the pattern shown. What does the 12 represent in the calculation $$3\times 4=12$$ ?

      An image in a quiz
      The number of triangles in the pattern.
      Correct answer: The number of lines in the pattern.
      The number of lines per triangle.
      The number of triangles per line.

      Q5.
      Look at the pattern shown. What does the 4 represent in the calculation $$3\times 4=12$$ ?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: The number of triangles in the pattern
      The number of lines in the pattern
      The number of lines per triangle
      The number of triangles per line

      Q6.
      Look at the pattern shown. What does the 3 represent in the calculation $$3\times 4=12$$ ?

      An image in a quiz
      The number of triangles in the pattern
      The number of lines in the pattern
      Correct answer: The number of lines per triangle
      The number of triangles per line

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which description best explains what is meant by a generalised rule?

      A rule that only works for one case
      A rule that will work for any number
      Correct answer: A rule that will work for all relevant cases
      A rule about shapes

      Q2.
      True or false: multiplying by 5 then adding 1 is the same as multiplying by 6

      True- because $$5+1=6$$
      Correct answer: False- $$2\times 5 +1=11$$

      Q3.
      Alex is going hiking, he takes 2 toothpaste tablets per day of his trip. Complete the generalised rule: The number of toothpaste tablets he needs is the number of days multiplied by

      Correct Answer: 2, two

      Q4.
      Alex is going hiking, he packs 3 snack bars per day. Select any true statements

      The number of bars is the number of days add 3
      The number of days is the number of bars multiplied by 3
      For each additional day he will need to pack 1 extra bar
      Correct answer: The number of bars is 3 lots of the number of days he is hiking

      Q5.
      Each sandwich contains 2 slices of bread, 3 slices of cheese and 12 olives. If you are told the number of sandwiches, match each calculation to what it will find.

      Correct Answer:$$\times 2$$,finds the amount of bread given the number of sandwiches

      finds the amount of bread given the number of sandwiches

      Correct Answer:$$\times 3$$,finds the amount of cheese given the number of sandwiches

      finds the amount of cheese given the number of sandwiches

      Correct Answer:$$\times 4$$,finds the number of olives given the amount of cheese

      finds the number of olives given the amount of cheese

      Correct Answer:$$\div 4$$,finds the amount of cheese given the number of olives

      finds the amount of cheese given the number of olives

      Correct Answer:$$\div 3 \times 2$$,finds the amount of bread given the amount of cheese

      finds the amount of bread given the amount of cheese

      Correct Answer:$$\div 2 \times 3$$,finds the amount of cheese given the amount of bread

      finds the amount of cheese given the amount of bread

      Q6.
      Jun is drawing J shape patterns in square grids like the example shown. Which rule best describes how to find the number of shaded squares for any sized pattern?

      An image in a quiz
      Number of squares in one row plus 3
      Number of squares in one row times 2
      Number of squares in one row times 3
      Number of squares in one row times 2 subtract 2
      Correct answer: Number of squares in one row times 3 subtract 3

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