Exploring Factoring as Undoing the Distributive Property A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines.





Title Exploring Factoring as Undoing the Distributive Property
Description In this lesson, students will explore the Area Model Algebra sim to relate factors to partial and complete products. Students will anchor their observations in the context of the distributive property and use their experiences to begin factoring. The two main learning goals in the lesson are to: • Factor a common factor from a binomial or trinomial • Recognize factoring as undoing the distributive property
Subject Mathematics
Level High School, Middle School
Type Guided Activity
Duration 60 minutes
Answers Included No
Language English
Keywords distributive property, factoring
Simulation(s) Area Model Algebra (HTML5)


Author(s) Sarah Hampton
Contact Email shampton@sullinsacademy.org
School / Organization Sullins Academy
Date submitted 8/1/18
Date updated 8/1/18