Factorising Expressions
PROCEDURALFactorise algebraic expressions by taking out common factors — identify the highest common factor of all terms and write the expression as a product, e.g., 6x + 9 = 3(2x + 3)
Mastery Evidence
- Identify the highest common factor of all terms in an expression
- Write the factorised form as a product of the HCF and a bracket
- Check factorisation by expanding the brackets back out
Assessment Prompt
“Can [child] look at an expression like "6x + 9" and rewrite it with the common factor taken out — as "3(2x + 3)"?”
Curriculum Standards2 alignments
7.EE.1Common Core State Standards for MathematicsApply properties of operations as strategies to add, subtract, factor, and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients.
KS3.Maths.Alg.4cThe national curriculum in Englandsimplify and manipulate algebraic expressions to maintain equivalence by: taking out common factors
Prerequisites1
- Expanding Single BracketshardAges 11—13
Show full prerequisite tree
- Expanding Single Brackets hard
Factorising is the reverse of expanding — students need expanding fluency first
- Expressions & Equations Vocabulary hard
Collecting like terms requires knowing what terms, coefficients, and like terms mean
- Writing Algebraic Equations hard
Algebraic notation builds on KS2 expressing missing-number problems algebraically
- Writing Number Sentences hard
Writing algebraic expressions extends writing/interpreting numerical expressions
- Brackets in Expressions hard
Writing/interpreting expressions requires understanding grouping symbols
- Division with remainders hard
Evaluating grouped expressions formalises multi-step calculation skills from Y5
- Multiply & Add Problems hard
Y4 M×D problem-solving is prerequisite to multi-step four-operation problems
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Multiplication as repeated addition (age 6+) hard
Scaling and correspondence problems extend Y2 problem-solving with mult/div
- Commutative Multiplication hard
Applying all three properties extends Y2 commutativity understanding
- Arrays for multiplication (age 9+) hard
Must have formal division method before solving multi-step problems
- Division as Unknown Factor hard
Understanding division as unknown-factor supports short division strategy
- What Multiplication Means hard
Connecting division to multiplication requires understanding products
- Fluent multiplication and division facts hard
Fluent ×÷ within 100 is prerequisite to short division of larger numbers
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Brackets in Expressions hard
The full BODMAS/PEMDAS convention extends understanding of grouping symbols to all operations
- Division with remainders hard
Evaluating grouped expressions formalises multi-step calculation skills from Y5
- Multiply & Add Problems hard
Y4 M×D problem-solving is prerequisite to multi-step four-operation problems
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Multiplication as repeated addition (age 6+) hard
Scaling and correspondence problems extend Y2 problem-solving with mult/div
- Commutative Multiplication hard
Applying all three properties extends Y2 commutativity understanding
- Arrays for multiplication (age 9+) hard
Must have formal division method before solving multi-step problems
- Division as Unknown Factor hard
Understanding division as unknown-factor supports short division strategy
- What Multiplication Means hard
Connecting division to multiplication requires understanding products
- Fluent multiplication and division facts hard
Fluent ×÷ within 100 is prerequisite to short division of larger numbers
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Brackets in Expressions hard
Writing/interpreting expressions requires understanding grouping symbols
- Division with remainders hard
Evaluating grouped expressions formalises multi-step calculation skills from Y5
- Multiply & Add Problems hard
Y4 M×D problem-solving is prerequisite to multi-step four-operation problems
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Multiplication as repeated addition (age 6+) hard
Scaling and correspondence problems extend Y2 problem-solving with mult/div
- Commutative Multiplication hard
Applying all three properties extends Y2 commutativity understanding
- Arrays for multiplication (age 9+) hard
Must have formal division method before solving multi-step problems
- Division as Unknown Factor hard
Understanding division as unknown-factor supports short division strategy
- What Multiplication Means hard
Connecting division to multiplication requires understanding products
- Fluent multiplication and division facts hard
Fluent ×÷ within 100 is prerequisite to short division of larger numbers
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Brackets in Expressions hard
The full BODMAS/PEMDAS convention extends understanding of grouping symbols to all operations
- Division with remainders hard
Evaluating grouped expressions formalises multi-step calculation skills from Y5
- Multiply & Add Problems hard
Y4 M×D problem-solving is prerequisite to multi-step four-operation problems
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Multiplication as repeated addition (age 6+) hard
Scaling and correspondence problems extend Y2 problem-solving with mult/div
- Commutative Multiplication hard
Applying all three properties extends Y2 commutativity understanding
- Arrays for multiplication (age 9+) hard
Must have formal division method before solving multi-step problems
- Division as Unknown Factor hard
Understanding division as unknown-factor supports short division strategy
- What Multiplication Means hard
Connecting division to multiplication requires understanding products
- Fluent multiplication and division facts hard
Fluent ×÷ within 100 is prerequisite to short division of larger numbers
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
- Written Multiplication hard
2/3-digit × 1-digit written method is prerequisite to 4-digit × 1-digit and 2-digit × 2-digit
- Written Multiplication & Division hard
Formal short multiplication extends Y3 written multiplication
- Area and the distributive property soft
Area models for distributive property support understanding long multiplication layout
- Understanding angles (age 8+) hard
Must multiply side lengths for area before using area models for distributive property
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