8-6 Say It With Symbols - Concepts and Explanations
Equivalent Expressions
In previous Units, students explored ways in which relationships can be expressed in tables, graphs, and equations. Often, the contextual clues or the patterns in tables or graphs could only be represented by one form of an equation. Here, students are deliberately presented with situations in which contextual clues can be interpreted in several ways to produce different but equivalent equations
Example
Find the number of 1-foot-square tiles N needed to make a border around a square pool with sides of length s feet.
Different conceptualizations of the situation can lead to different but equivalent
expressions for the number of tiles:
N = 4s +4
N = 4(s + 1);
N = s + s + s + s + 4
N = 8 + 4(s - 1)
N = 2s + 2(s + 2)
N = (s + 2)2 - s2
Revisiting the Distributive Property
If an expression is written as a factor multiplied by a sum of two or more terms, the Distributive Property can be applied to multiply the factor by each term in the sum. If an expression is written as a sum of terms and the terms have a common factor, the Distributive Property can be applied to rewrite the expression as the common factor multiplied by a sum of two or more terms. This process is called factoring.
Example
The Distributive Property allows you to group symbols (shown on the left side of the equation) or to expand an expression as needed (shown on the right side of the equation)
Checking for Equivalence
Students may use geometric reasoning to decide if expressions are equivalent. Students may check whether equivalent. Students may check whether equations have the same graphs and tables. Students should also be able to use the Distributive and Commutative properties to show that expressions are equivalent.
Example
By applying the Distributive Property, 4(s + 1) = 4s + 4.
8 + 4(s - 1) can be shown to be equivalent to 4s + 4.
8 + 4(s - 1) = 8 + 4s -4 (Distributive Property)
= 8 - 4 + 4s (Commutative Property)
= 4 + 4s (Subtraction)
= 4s + 4 (Commutative Property)
Combining Expressions
Students combine expressions to create a new expression by adding or subtracting, or by substituting an equivalent expression for a given quantity in the original expression or equation. They then interpret what information the variables and numbers represent in the context of the problem.
Example
The equations represent the amount of money M raised by individuals who walk x kilometers in a walkathon.
MLeanna = 160 MGilberto = 7(2x) MAlana = 11(5 + 0.5x)
These equations are combined by addition to find the total amount of money raised.
Mtotal = 160 + 7(2x) + 11(5 + 0.5x)
Students find equivalent equations such as:
Mtotal = 215 + 19.5x
Solving Linear Equations
Students have used tables or graphs to find solutions. They can solve linear equations such as y = mx + b, y = a(x + b), or mx + b = px + c. In this Unit, students solve more complicated equations.
Example
200 = 5x - (100 + 2x)
200 = 5x - (2x + 100) (Commutative Property)
200 = 5x - 2x - 100 (Distributive Property)
200 = 3x - 100 (Subtration)
300 = 3x (Addition Property of Equality)
100 = x (Division Property of Equality)
Solving Quadratic Equations
Students connect solving quadratic equations for x when y = 0 to finding x-intercepts on the graph. They are introduced to solving quadratic equations by factoring. Quadratic equations of the form y = ax2 + bx or y = ax2 + bx + c can be factored into the product of two binomials and solved for x when y = 0.
Example
If y = 2x2 + 8x, then you can find the values of x when y = 0 by rewriting the equation in the equivalent form of 2x(x + 4) = 0. This product can only be zero if one of the factors, 2x or x + 4, is equal to zero. Thus 2x = 0 or x + 4 = 0. By solving each of these linear equations, x = 0 or x = -4.
If y = x2 + 5x + 6, write x2 + 5x + 6 in factored form (x + 2)(x + 3) and then solve 0 = (x + 2)(x + 3). Thus, x + 2 = 0 or x = -2, and x + 3 = 0 or x = -3.