Introduction to Algebraic

Notation
Sarah Allott
www.drfrost.org
@DrFrostMaths

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Last modified:6th June 2024 charity in England and Wales (no
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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite Representations
Knowledge Used Future Links
• Equivalent fractions • Algebra tiles • Substitution
and simplest form • Expanding brackets
• Negative numbers and • Forming expressions
arithmetic and equations
• Solving linear
equations
• Four operations with
algebraic fractions

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Skills in this Lesson
190 Algebraic terminology
190a Distinguish between constants, variables, terms, expressions, equations and
formulae.
191 Multiplying single algebraic terms (no index laws)
191a Multiply an algebraic term involving one variable by a positive integer.
191b Multiply an algebraic term involving multiple variables by a positive integer.
191c Multiply algebraic terms with positive coefficients (no powers).
191d Multiply algebraic terms with positive coefficients (maximum power of 2).
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191e Multiply algebraic terms with negative coefficients charity in England
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Clicking this box takes you to a single question practice for a
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Skills in this Lesson
192 Dividing single algebraic terms (no index laws)
192a Divide an algebraic term involving one variable by a positive integer.
192b Divide an algebraic term involving multiple variables by a positive integer
(maximum power of 2).
192c Divide an algebraic term by an algebraic term with coefficient of 1 (maximum
power of 2).
192d Divide algebraic terms with positive coefficients (maximum power of 2).
192e Divide algebraic terms with negative coefficients (maximum power of 2).
192f Combine multiplication and division of algebraic terms.
193 Collecting like terms
193a Add algebraic terms containing the same variable.
193b Add and subtract algebraic terms containing the same variable.
193c Collect like terms involving multiple variables, which are positive and without
powers.
193d Collect like terms involving multiple variables and without powers.
193e Collect like terms with powers.
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Contents
For lessons covering many concepts, please click the below to navigate
quickly to the relevant part of the lesson.

Throughout this lesson algebra tiles are introduced and used to scaffold
learning.

Introduction to Algebra – Constants, Variables & Terms

Multiply Single Algebraic Terms

Divide Single Algebraic Terms

Algebraic Expressions

Collect Like Terms

Dr Frost Learning is a registered

charity in England and Wales (no
Introduction – What IS Algebra?
Algebra concerns
representing missing
information.

Put simply, we use

letters, known as
variables, to (usually)
represent numbers.

Usually, the value of

variables are not initially
known, but we hope to
Examples:
combine available
information to find their
• might represent
value.
someone’s age this year.
• (theta, pronounced thee-
tuh) usually represents an
unknown angle.
• might represent the price
Source: Google of a cupcake.
Definitions – Constants and Variables
In mathematics, a constant is a fixed value.

On the other hand, a variable (from Latin variabilis,

meaning "changeable") is a symbol that represents a
mathematical object. Variables are often used to represent
a quantity that can change or an unknown number.

Variables Constants Neither

2
𝑥 3 0.4 𝑥𝑦 𝑝
𝑦 1
3 𝑎 +1
𝑏 3𝑏
𝜃 −2 𝜋 2
𝑝 −3𝑞
Using Algebra Tiles

𝑥 𝑦
These are algebra tiles.
2 2
We are going to use
them to represent 𝑥 𝑦
𝑦 1
different expressions.
𝑥 1
As a standard, we use
and , but we can use
any letters we want.
− 𝑥 −𝑥
2 𝑥𝑦
Red tiles are the
negative versions of
each lettered tile. They
help us to make zero
− 𝑥 −1
𝑥𝑦
pairs.
Using Algebra Tiles

Let’s look at the1 tile.

It is a square with sides of length 1. Therefore, the

area of1the tile is 1.
1
1 1

We can combine multiple1 tiles together to

represent different constants. What numbers are−1
shown here?
1 1 1 1
11111 1
1 −1 1 1 1 −1
𝟓?
𝟐? 𝟒
?
Using Algebra Tiles

Now let’s consider the 𝑥 𝑦

and
tiles.

The and tiles are the same height as the 1 tile, and
they are and units long respectively.
𝑥 𝑦
1 𝑥 1 𝑦

The area of the tile is The area of the tile is

. .

Notice that the tile is a different length to

the tile as they represent different
unknowns.
Even though the tile is shorter,
this doesn’t mean that is always less than .
Definition – Terms

What do each of the Are there any What do each of

terms have in similarities/differences the non-terms have
common? between the two in common?
groups?

Terms Not Terms

𝑥 3 𝑥− 𝑦
𝑥
7𝑦 5
1 2
𝑎+1 𝑝 − 3 𝑞
3
𝑘
2
−2 𝑚
𝑛
𝑢+ 𝑎𝑡

A term is either a single variable or a

constant, or a combination of both
connected through multiplication or
division.
Multiply Single Algebraic Terms

In algebra, we don’t use the symbol in the final

term because it can be easily confused with
Instead, we put things next to each other to
indicate they are multiplied.

𝑥 ×2=𝟐 𝒙
? 𝑦 ×− 3=−𝟑? 𝒚
𝑥 𝑦
𝑥 − 𝑦
2
𝑥 −3 − 𝑦
− 𝑦

Top tip: Numbers go at

the beginning of a
term (known as
coefficients), so they
don’t get confused
with indices.
Quickfire Questions
Use algebra tiles to create the expressions

𝑥 𝑥𝑥
below:
𝑥
3 𝑥 𝑥
𝑥
or

𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦𝑦
𝑦 𝑦
6 𝑦 or
𝑦 𝑦
𝑦 𝑦

−𝑥−𝑥−𝑥−𝑥−𝑥 −𝑥−𝑥−𝑥
− 𝑥
− 𝑥
−5 𝑥 or

Are there any other

Zero Pairs & Variables?
Nathan and Basma are discussing what term is
represented below
𝑥 𝑥
𝑥 𝑥
𝑥− 𝑥

The box is wide

and No! It shows , because
high, so the you use compound area
and there is a negative
area is tile!

Who is correct?
How do you know?

Any pair of tiles of the same variables

but with different signs make a zero
Quickfire Questions: Using Algebra Tiles

What terms are shown here?

𝟒 ?𝒚
𝑥
𝑥
𝑥𝟓
?𝒙
𝑦 𝑦𝑦
𝑦
𝑥
𝑥
𝑦

𝑥𝑥 𝑥−𝑥
𝑦 𝑦
− 𝑦− 𝑦
− 𝑦− 𝑦
− 𝑦
𝑥
− 𝟐? 𝒚
𝟑? 𝒙
Who is right?

Hannah says that .

Maria says that

Abdi says that

Logan says that

Use algebra tiles to see who

is correct.
Using Algebra Tiles

2𝑥
1 𝑥 𝑥
𝑥
2
2
The symbol
means
‘equivalent to’.
The left statement
is mathematically
𝑥
𝑥𝑥
𝑥
𝑥
identical to the
right statement.

Abdi is correct.
Hannah is correct.
Multiply Single Algebraic Terms

In algebra, we don’t like the symbol because it

can be easily confused with ; instead, we put things
next to each other to indicate they are multiplied.

𝑥 × 𝑦= 𝒙𝒚
? 𝑦 × 𝑦= 𝒚 ?𝟐

𝑥 𝑦

𝑦
𝑥𝑦 𝑦
𝑦
2

This tile is a square of

Top tip: We could length , so we call the
have written here, but index “squared”.
variables are normally
written alphabetically.
Example Test Your
Understanding
Simplify: Decompose Simplify:
the
a 4 𝑥 ×2 𝑥 multiplication a

¿ 4 × 𝑥 × 2× 𝑥
¿ 4 × 2× 𝑥 × 𝑥 ?
2
¿8 𝑥 Commute
the terms
Multiply the coefficients
and the terms separately.
b
1
b 2 𝑎× 𝑏 ×− 4 𝑎𝑏
2
1
¿ 2 × 𝑎 × × 𝑏× − 4 ×𝑎 ×𝑏 ?
2
1 Did you get a different answer –
¿ 2 × × − 4 ×𝑎 ×𝑎 × 𝑏 ×𝑏 maybe ? Are they the same?
2
2 2
¿−4 𝑎 𝑏 drfrost.org/ 191d
s/
191e
Divide Single Algebraic Terms

6 2× 3 2
≡ ? ≡
9 3×3 3

Fractions are ultimately just divisions. How can we

simplify this fraction?

Divide the numerator and denominator by their

common? factors.

Top tip: we usually refer to

this process of dividing by
common factors as
‘cancelling out’ a factor.
Divide Single Algebraic Terms

2
6𝑥 2 × 3× 𝑥 × 𝑥 2 𝑥
≡ ? ≡
9𝑥 3×3×𝑥 3
Fractions are ultimately just divisions. How can we
simplify this fraction?

Divide the numerator and denominator by

common factors (even algebraic ones!).
?
We can treat coefficients separately to
variables.
and
Example Test Your
Understanding
Simplify: Simplify:
2
a 8 𝑥 ÷ 2 𝑥2 8 ÷ 2=4 a

8𝑥
¿
2𝑥 2 ?
¿4𝑥 𝑥 ÷ 𝑥=𝑥

Finally, multiply the and the together

to get your answer. In effect, you’re
treating the fraction as
b

2
b 16 𝑚 ÷ 7 𝑚𝑝
16 𝑚 ?
¿ 2
7𝑚𝑝
16
¿ 2
7𝑝 drfrost.org/ 192d
s/
Definition – Expressions

What do each of the Are there any What do each of

expressions have in similarities/differences the non-
common? between the two expressions have in
groups? common?

Expressions Not Expressions

2 𝑥−4 𝑦 1
−𝑎 𝑥 +4 =31
3
1
𝑎+1 −2 ÷ 𝑔 4 𝑎+1=2𝑏 − 4
3

𝑥
2 𝑢+ 𝑎𝑡 𝑣 =𝑢+𝑎𝑡

An expression is either a single term,

constant or variable or a combination of
these connected through addition and
subtraction.
Reading Algebraic Expressions

Suppose represented your current age.

What would these expressions represent?

a Your age in ?4 years’ time.

b Twice your age.

?

c A third of your
? age.

Three times your age,

d ?
then subtract seven
years.
Quickfire Questions

Let be the price of a chocolate bar and be the price

of a magazine. Write down the expression for:

a Two chocolate bars 𝟐𝒄

?

b Three chocolate bars and a magazine 𝟑 𝒄 +? 𝒎

c The price of two magazines, subtracted 𝟒 𝒄 −?𝟐 𝒎

from the price of 4 chocolate bars

d A magazine that is 50% off or ?

Example
John buys apples and bananas.

Each apple costs 22 pence. Each banana costs 50

pence.

Write down an expression, in terms of and , for the

total amount, in pence, that John spends on apples
If John
and bought 2 apples and 3 bananas, we’d do this
bananas.
calculation…
p

However, we don’t know the number of apples and

bananas, so we use our variables instead.
Test Your Understanding
Batteries are sold in packs and boxes.

There are 12 batteries in each pack. There are 24

batteries in each box. Jules buys packs and boxes
of batteries.

Write down an expression, in terms of and , for the

total amount of batteries that Jules buys.

packs of 12 batteries =
boxes of 24 batteries =
?

Total:
Example
Ahmed has chocolates.
Jack has 4 times as many chocolates as Ahmed.

One day, Jack eats 3 of his chocolates

Write down an expression, in terms of , for the

number of chocolates Jack has left.

Ahmed: chocolates
Jack: chocolates

Now Jack eats three, so we need to subtract 3 from

Jack: chocolates
Test Your Understanding

Albert has points. Latika has less points than

Albert.

Write down an expression, in terms of , for the

number of points Latika has.

Albert: points
?
Latika: points
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Write the expression represented by each group of algebra tiles.

a b

𝟓 𝒙? + 𝟐 𝟑 𝒙𝒚
? +𝟑

c d

?
or

𝟐 ?𝒙
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

2 In this question, you can only choose from the following tiles (see
worksheet).
Draw the algebra tile representation for the following expressions.
a 4 𝑥+ 6 b
*draw two different representations
𝑥 11
𝑥 − 𝑥 11
𝑥 11 𝑥 11
𝑥
𝑥? 1 1
11
𝑥 11 ?
𝑥 11
𝑥 𝑥 1 1
𝑥

c 2
2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 +6 d
*draw two different
representations
2 2 𝑥 −1
2 𝑥 −1
𝑥 𝑥
𝑥 11
? 𝑥 𝑥

?
𝑥 −1
2 2 2
𝑥 𝑥 −𝑥
𝑥 11
𝑥 −1
𝑥 11
𝑥
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

e Assuming , make the largest expression possible using fewer than 10

tiles.
𝑥1
2 2
𝑥 𝑥
𝑥1 𝟐
𝟐 𝒙 +𝟒 𝒙+𝟑
?
𝑥 1
𝑥
f Assuming , represent zero using more than 10 tiles.

𝑥 − 𝑥 1 1 −1
2 2
𝑥 −𝑥
𝑥 − 𝑥 −1
?
𝑥 − 𝑥
𝑥 − 𝑥

g What expression is made using all the tiles?

𝟐
𝒙 ?+ 𝟒
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

3 Simplify

a ? d ? g ?
b ? e ? h ?
c ? f ? i ?

4 Calculators cost pence each. 5 Albert is years old. Lacey is twice

Write down an expression for as old as Albert. John is 9 years
the total cost, in pence, of 10 younger than Lacey. Write down an
calculators. expression, in terms of , for John’s
age.
pence ?
Albert: ?
Lacey:
John:
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

6 [Edexcel GCSE Jun2016-1F Q11b]

Chris works for 7 hours each day from Monday to Friday. He earns
pounds for each hour he works.

Write down an expression, in terms of for the total amount, in

pounds, that Chris earns from Monday to Friday. Give your answer in
its simplest form.

Chris works hours a week.

?
35 hours at pounds per hour

£
Collecting Like Terms

When we add or subtract algebraic terms in

expressions, we can simplify using ‘like terms’.
Like Terms Not Like Terms
and and
and and
and and
and and
and and

What is different in
What is the same in
each pair of non-
each pair of like
like terms?
terms?

‘Like terms’ are terms that have the

same variables raised to the same
power.
Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

the algebra
tiles.
4 𝑎 +3 𝑎 ≡ 𝟕 𝒂
Click to reveal
?

𝟒 𝒂: 𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎
𝑎
𝑎

𝟑 𝒂: There are seven tiles

altogether, so
Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

5 h − 2h +3 ≡𝟑 𝒉 +𝟑
Click to reveal
the algebra ?
tiles.

h h
:
h h h
: − h− h
: 111

Remember: The positive and the

negative here form a zero pair.

Click to remove the zero pair.

Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

2 𝑥+2 𝑦 − 4 𝑥 ≡ 𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒙
Click to reveal
the algebra
tiles.

𝑥 𝑥
𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥− 𝑥
− 𝑥− 𝑥

𝟐𝒙 𝟐𝒚 −𝟒 𝒙
Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

2 𝑥 − 4 𝑥+ 2 𝑦 ≡ 𝟐 𝒚 − 𝟐 𝒙 ?

𝟐𝒙
−𝟒 𝒙
𝑥 𝑥
− 𝑥− 𝑥
− 𝑥− 𝑥
𝑦𝑦 We can move the tiles
around to help us
visualise the zero
pairs a little more
𝟐𝒚 easily. This is
commutativity.
The zero pair
disappears, and we
Top tip: By convention, we write the are left with two tiles
positive term first. In this case we write and two negative
rather than . tiles. Hence, .
Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

2 𝟐?
3 𝑔 +5 𝑔 ≡𝟑 𝒈 +𝟓 𝒈
Click to reveal
the algebra
tiles.

𝑔 𝑔 𝑔 𝑔𝑔
2 2 2
𝑔 𝑔𝑔

These tiles have different powers,

so the terms are not like. There
are no zero pairs. Nothing can be
done to simplify this expression.
Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

2 2 𝟐
3 𝑤 −2 𝑤 −2 𝑤 ≡𝒘 −𝟐 𝒘
Click to reveal
the algebra ?
tiles.

𝑤 𝑤 𝑤 −𝑤−𝑤
2 2 2 Top tip: We write
instead of .

2 2
−𝑤 −𝑤 The zero pairs disappear, and
we are left with one tile and
two negative tiles. Hence, .
Collecting Like Terms
How does this ‘simplify’? Can we use the
algebra tiles to convince ourselves?

2 𝟐
3 𝑥𝑦 + 4 𝑥 −2 𝑥𝑦 ≡ 𝒙𝒚 +𝟒 𝒙
Click to reveal
the algebra ?
tiles.

𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑥 𝑥 2 2

𝑥𝑦 𝑥 𝑥 −𝑥𝑦 −𝑥𝑦
2 2
 Example Test Your
Understanding
Simplify: Simplify:
a 3 𝑎+4 𝑏−6 𝑎+8 𝑏+2 𝑐 a

= 3 𝑎 − 6𝑎 + 4𝑏 + 8𝑏 + 2𝑐 ¿ 6 𝑔+3 𝑔+2 h − 8 h −5 h
¿ − 3 𝑎+12𝑏+2 𝑐 ¿ 𝟗 𝒈 −𝟏𝟏𝒉
?
¿ 12 𝑏+2 𝑐 − 3 𝑎
Top tip: Use the first line of working out
to commute the like terms next to each
other.

b5 𝑥 2+2 𝑥𝑦 −3 𝑥 2 𝑦 +8 𝑥 2 − 𝑦𝑥+4 𝑥 𝑦
2
b 2 2
3 𝑎𝑏 −5 𝑎 𝑏 +6 𝑎𝑏− 4 𝑏 𝑎 −2 𝑏
2 2 2 2
¿ 5 𝑥 +8 𝑥 +2 𝑥𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 − 3 𝑥 𝑦 +4 𝑥 𝑦 ¿ 3 𝑎𝑏+6 𝑎𝑏− 5 𝑎𝑏 2 − 4 𝑏2 𝑎−2 𝑏
2 2 2 𝟐 ?
¿ 13 𝑥 +𝑥𝑦 − 3 𝑥 𝑦 +4 𝑥 𝑦 ¿ 𝟗 𝒂𝒃−𝟗 𝒂𝒃 −𝟐 𝒃
Top tip: , so and are still
like terms. drfrost.org/ 193d 193f
s/
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

20 𝑦 9 𝑦
2

9 𝑦 𝑦
2
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

31 𝑗3
3 𝑗16 𝑗
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

3 𝑥3 − 𝑥
− 3 𝑥− 3
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

32 𝑟𝑠5 𝑟𝑠
6 𝑟𝑠3 𝑟 + 2 𝑠
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

𝑓 +9 𝑚10 𝑓𝑚
9 𝑚+7 𝑓 1 𝑓 +9 𝑚
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

2 2
5 h − h5 h −3 h+2
2 2
4 h 2h +2
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

3 3 2
15 𝑏 9 𝑏 +12 𝑏
2 3 3 2
12 𝑏 +3 𝑏 6 𝑏 +9 𝑏
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

2 5 2 5
7𝑡 −2𝑡+8−3𝑞 +8𝑞7𝑡 +6𝑡−3𝑞 +8𝑞
2 5 2 5
5 𝑡 +8+5 𝑞 18 𝑡 𝑞
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

2 2
29 𝑎 𝑏 19𝑏 +10𝑎𝑏
4 2
19𝑏 +10𝑎𝑏181𝑏 +10𝑎𝑏
Multi-Choice
Question
Simplify

2 2 2 2
2 𝑥 +10 𝑥𝑦+7 𝑥2𝑥 +10𝑥 𝑦 −7𝑥
2 2
4 𝑥 +10 𝑥𝑦+11𝑥2 𝑥 +10 𝑥𝑦 −7 𝑥
Who Is Correct?

Viktor and Imani were completing this homework

question:

The answer is because

No! The answer is
because .

Who is correct &

why?
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 2 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns
1 Simplify:

a ? b ? c ?

d ? e ? f ?

g ? h ? i ?

j k l
? ? ?

m n o
? ? ?
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 2 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

2 To be able to add or subtract 3 Simplify

?
algebraic terms, the terms must a
? the same
have ?
variables raised to ?
b
?
the same powers. We? call these
? like
?
terms. and are ‘like terms’ because c
?
?
the variables ?and powers are ?the d
same. and are not ‘like terms’ ?
e
because? the powers are different. ?
4 [OCR GCSE (9-1) Practice set 1 2F Q11a] f
Here is a pentagon. ?
3𝑥 g
𝑥 𝑥 ?

?
Perimeter:
2𝑥 2𝑥
Write down an expression for the perimeter
of the pentagon. Give your answer in its