Author: Ashton Coward

This type of activity is known as Practice. Please read the guidance notes here, where you will find useful information for running these types of activities with your students.

Note from Craig: This is an approach to factorising quadratic expressions that I have never taught. It is an attempt to present students with a approach that can be applied to expressions where the coefficient on x-squared is 1, and when it is not 1. The latter I have always taught by inspection, and logical trial and error, but I have encountered many students for whom this doesn’t sit well, and who are desperate for a method. Perhaps this is the answer? I also like the way that the method runs backwards – staring with getting students comfortable with the final step, and then going backwards one step to see what came before it. Ashton has kindly animated the PowerPoint so the solutions appear one at a time. You can download that file at the bottom of the page.

Step 5

Steps 4 and 5

 

Steps 3, 4 and 5

 

Step 1

 

4. Downloadable version

• Practice-Grid-Method 5 step

 

5. Alternative versions

• feel free to create and share an alternate version that worked well for your class following the guidance here