Interpreting Parts of an Expression
I can name the terms, factors, coefficients and constant term of an expression, and say what they mean.
What students learn
Students learn to tell terms from factors, give each coefficient with its sign, and say what a coefficient and a constant mean in a real situation.
See inside
The key rule
A term ends where a + or − sign outside ( ) begins. The parts multiplied inside one term are its factors, not separate terms.
5ab − 3a + 8 → 3 terms
−x is a term with coefficient −1.
Watch out
How many terms does 7ab have?
The mistake: 3 terms: 7, a and b7, a and b are multiplied, so they are factors.
The fix: 1 term with 3 factors: 7, a, bNo + or − splits it, so it stays one term.
The mistakes it targets
- Counts factors as separate terms
- Drops the sign of a coefficient
- Splits a term at a sign inside parentheses
- Swaps the meanings of the coefficient and the constant in a context
- Leaves the sign off a constant term
The interactive Teacher Deck (31 slides, PowerPoint)
- The Learn page taught on screen: 9 fill-in blanks, each filled on its own click as students write it
- The worked example one slide per step (three steps), each with the reason for the step
- Six practice and three apply problems: a your-turn slide with a think-time bar, then the solution one line per click
- Jump buttons on every slide: go straight to any problem, the answer bank or the exit ticket
- Speaker notes on each problem: the question to ask, the worked answer and the common error to listen for
- A completed deck PDF (19 pages) with every slide fully built, to print or post
The student packet (9 pages)
- Learn: guided notes with four definitions, the key rule, a worked example and a Watch Out error pair
- Practice: two warm-up, two standard and two stretch problems, with an answer bank for self-checking that hides three common-mistake decoys
- Apply: two word problems and one error analysis
- Assess: an exit ticket of four items, two per page, with an I-can self-rating
- Homework (page 5): eight new problems, two warm-up, four standard and two stretch
- Answer key (pages 6–7): every problem worked step by step, five common mistakes with what to do about each, and a grading guide, plus the homework key (page 8)
- Color and ink-saver editions of the whole packet
Standard codes refer to the Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. Math Class 678 is an independent publisher, not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by NGA Center or CCSSO. Every product is sold on Teachers Pay Teachers.