Factoring in Grade 7

[jkerr]

7.EE.1 requires students to add, subtract, factor, and expand linear expressions with rational coefficients. It makes sense to add, subtract, and expand with rational coefficients at this level. Is this also required with factoring? In other words, is a Grade 7 student expected to rewrite (-1/2)x + 3/2 as (-1/2)(x – 3)? If given these expressions, they should be able to determine equivalence for sure, but must they rewrite this on their own?

This was alluded to in the old blog on 6/21 (DavdSmith) and 6/24 (Ginger). Ginger mentioned New York’s interpretation of the standard, which is also vague.

Thanks

[Bill McCallum]

The example you have given is on the more difficult side but yes, that’s what factor means in this context. Probably you’d start with simpler examples like $2x – 2 = 2(x-1)$.

[Corrected 2012/09/14]

• This reply was modified 12 years, 2 months ago by Bill McCallum.

[Denise Humphries]

Shouldn’t that example be 2x-2=2(x-1) ?  It is late…. I’ve taught all day then attended two school functions, so my brain might be a little squirrelly.

[Bill McCallum]

Thanks for spotting that! I’ve corrected it.

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