Inline Questions (Algebraic Expressions)

Day 1: Introduction to Algebra

  • What is a variable? Can you point it out in this expression: 5x + 3?
  • Which part of 7y + 4 is the constant?
  • Identify the coefficient in 6a + 9.
  • Can a number alone be a variable? Why or why not?
  • If I have 3 pencils and x erasers, how can I write this as an expression?

Day 2: Terms and Types of Expressions

  • How many terms are in 4x + 7?
  • Is 3y a monomial, binomial, or trinomial?
  • Identify the type of this expression: 5a + 2b + 3c
  • Can an expression have only constants? Give an example.
  • Which expression has more terms: 7x + 2y or 3x + 4y + 5z?

Day 3: Simplifying Expressions (Addition)

  • Can we combine 3x + 4y? Why or why not?
  • Simplify 2a + 5a
  • What happens when we add 7b + 3b?
  • Identify the like terms in 3x + 2y + 5x
  • If I have x + x + x, how many x’s do I have?

Day 4: Simplifying Expressions (Subtraction)

  • Simplify 7x – 3x
  • Can we subtract 5y – 7y? What do we get?
  • Identify like terms in 8a + 2b – 3a – b
  • Why can’t we subtract 4x – 2y?
  • Simplify: 6m + 3n – 2m + n

Day 5: Translating Verbal Statements

  • How would you write “five more than a number x”?
  • Translate: “The sum of a number and 7”
  • How would you write “three times a number decreased by 4”?
  • Translate: “Twice a number plus 5”
  • What does “a number minus 6” look like as an expression?

Week 2: Advanced Practice and Application

Day 6: Evaluating Expressions

  • If x = 3, what is 2x + 5?
  • Evaluate 5a – 2b for a = 2, b = 3
  • How do you check your answer after evaluating an expression?
  • If y = 4, calculate 3y + 7
  • What is the value of x + x + 2 when x = 5?

Day 7: Word Problems

  • Translate: “A shop sells x chocolates a day. How many in 5 days?”
  • How would you write “I buy x pens and 2 pencils each”?
  • If a train travels y km per hour for 3 hours, how do you write it as an expression?
  • How do you decide which numbers are constants in a word problem?
  • Write an expression for: “I have 3 more than twice my friend’s score (s).”

Day 8: Combining Like Terms (Advanced)

  • Simplify 2x + 3y + 5x – 2y
  • Can we combine 2x + 3y? Why not?
  • Simplify 4a + 3b – 2a + 5b – 6
  • Identify all like terms in 3p + 5q + 2p – 7q
  • How do you know when an expression is fully simplified?

Day 9: Quiz & Peer Learning

  • How many terms are there in 5x + 3y + 7?
  • What is the coefficient of y in 7y + 2?
  • Simplify: 4x + 3x + 2y – y
  • Translate this into an expression: “Twice a number plus 3”
  • Explain your answer to a partner: why we combine only like terms

Day 10: Real-Life Application & Project

  • How would you write your daily allowance as an algebraic expression?
  • Can you write an expression for the cost of x pencils at 5 rupees each?
  • How do expressions help us calculate distance or money?
  • Write an expression for: “I have 2 more than 3 times my age”
  • Present your expression: how did you choose the variables and constants?