Math Games

Grade 7 - Patterning and Algebra

Standard 7.PA.2 - Practice evaluating variable expressions with whole numbers.

Included Skills:

Variables, Expressions, and Equations
• model real-life relationships involving constant rates where the initial condition starts at 0 (e.g., speed, heart rate, billing rate), through investigation using tables of values and graphs (Sample problem: Create a table of values and graph the relationship between distance and time for a car travelling at a constant speed of 40 km/h. At that speed, how far would the car travel in 3.5 h? How many hours would it take to travel 220 km?);
• model real-life relationships involving constant rates (e.g., speed, heart rate, billing rate), using algebraic equations with variables to represent the changing quantities in the relationship (e.g., the equation p = 4t represents the relationship between the total number of people that can be seated (p) and the number of tables (t), given that each table can seat 4 people [4 people per table is the constant rate]);
• translate phrases describing simple mathematical relationships into algebraic expressions (e.g., one more than three times a number can be written algebraically as 1 + 3x or 3x + 1), using concrete materials (e.g., algebra tiles, pattern blocks, counters);
• evaluate algebraic expressions by substituting natural numbers for the variables;
• make connections between evaluating algebraic expressions and determining the term in a pattern using the general term (e.g., for 3, 5, 7, 9, ..., the general term is the algebraic expression 2n + 1; evaluating this expression when n = 12 tells you that the 12th term is 2(12) + 1, which equals 25);
• solve linear equations of the form ax = c or c = ax and ax + b = c or variations such as b + ax = c and c = bx + a (where a, b, and c are natural numbers) by modelling with concrete materials, by inspection, or by guess and check, with and without the aid of a calculator (e.g., "I solved x + 7 = 15 by using guess and check. First I tried 6 for x. Since I knew that 6 plus 7 equals 13 and 13, is less than 15, then I knew that x must be greater than 6.").