ACTIVITY 1

1.1 Carry out the following steps to determine the factors of the following:
(a) a

x
2 −x −x −x −x
b
x −1 −1 −1 −1
x −1 −1 −1 −1

(b)

x
2
x x x
b
−x −1 −1 −1

Step 1: Write down the algebraic expression modelled by the algebra tiles in (a) – (b).
Step 2: Look at the tiles and find the factors by writing down the factors of x 2 and the
number of x tiles in each row in the spaces marked a and b in the figures .
(Do not forget to include the sign).
Step 3: Write down the factors (using brackets to separate them) in step 2 and calculate the
product in each case. Use the table below to record your answers.
Factors Product
(a)
(b)

Step 4: Write down the number of factors in (a) – (b) where the first term in the trinomial has a
coefficient of one.
Step 5: What do you notice between the product calculated in Step 3 and the algebraic
expression in Step 1?
Step 6: Underline the terms in the original polynomial that are used to determine the factors. Use
the second column in the table to record your answers.
Step 7: Explain how these terms selected in step 6 are used and how does the second term in the
trinomial influence the signs used in the brackets of the product.
Step 8: Copy and complete:
When the third term of a trinomial is _______________, the signs in the brackets will
________________, one will be negative and the other positive.
(10)
1.2 Factorise the following:
2
1.2.1 x −9 x−36 (2)
2
1.2.2 x + 17 x−18 (2)
2
1.2.3 x −16 (2)
[16]

ACTIVITY 2
2. Jessy records the number of cars and car wheels he sees in his street.
His recording is as follows:
1 car has 4 wheels.
2 cars will have 8 wheels.
2.1 Jessy records this information in the table below:
Number of cars (x) 1 2 3 4 6
Number of wheels (y) 4 8 12

2.1.1 Complete the missing values in the table (2)

2.1.2 Which variable represent the input and output? (2)

2.1.3 Which variable represents the independent variable? Give reason (2)

2.1.4 Which variable represent the dependent variable? Give reason (2)

2.1.5 Write a verbal statement that relates the number of cars to the number of wheels in general
(general term) (2)

2.2 Thabo is given the following table:

X 1 2 3 4 6
y 3 8 13 18 23
Thabo states that y = 2𝑥+1 is the correct formula for the function illustrated in the table.
 2.2.1 Is Thabo correct? If not write the correct formula, Show all the calculations that you have
used in determining your answer. (3)

2.2.2 Put the information in the above table on a Cartesian plane and draw the line (6)

[19]

ACTIVITY 3

Factorisation is a method of factoring a Algebra tiles are mathematical manipulatives that

number or a polynomial. The polynomials are allow learners to better understand ways of algebra
decomposed into products of their factors. thinking and the concepts of algebra. Each tile is
based on area as outlined below:
A trinomial is an expression that contains
three terms. When you expand binomials such
as (x +2)(x−5), you get an answer in the form
of a trinomial: x 2−3 x−10 The inverse process
of writing trinomials into the product of two
binomials is called factorisation.

ACTIVITY 3
3.1 Carry out the following steps:
Step 1: Write down the algebraic expression modelled by
the algebra tiles in (a) – (d).
Step 2: Look at the tiles and find the factors by writing
down the factors of x 2 and the number of x tiles in each
row in the spaces marked a and b in the figures.
(Do not forget to include the sign).
Step 3: Write down the factors (using brackets to separate
them) in step 2 and calculate the product in each case. Use
the table below to record your answers.

Factors Product
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
Algebraic Expression
terms

2
5 x +3 x−7
coefficien
variabl constan
Step 4: Write down the number of factors in (a) – (d)
where the first term in the trinomial has one as the coefficient

Step 5: What do you notice between the product calculated in Step 3 and the algebraic
expression in Step 1?

Step 6: Underline the terms in the original polynomial that are

used to determine the factors. Use the second column in the table to record your answers.

Step 7: Explain how these terms selected in step 6 are used and how does the second term in the
trinomial influence the signs used in the brackets of the product.
Step 8: Copy and complete:
When you factorise a trinomial in the form x 2+ bx+ c , find the factors of the first and _________
terms. The ______________ term will determine which of the factors of the third term is correct.
When the third term is positive, the __________ in the brackets will be the ________ as the sign
of the second term, and the factors in the third term will be _________ to find the middle term.

Determine the factors of the following:

(a) a

x
2 x x

b x 1 1
x 1 1
x 1 1

(b)
a

x
2 x x x
b
x 1 1 1

(c) A T-chart is a graphic organiser that separates

information in columns
a

The product is
x
2 −x −x modelled in the
space inside the
(d)
a

x
2
−x −x −x −x
b
−x 1 1 1 1

(11)

1.2 Determine the factors of the following:

2
1.2.1 x −10 x+ 25 (2)
2
1.2.2 y +7 y +10 (2)
[15]
TOTAL: 50