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Primary 6 · Algebra · Question type 4.4

P6 Algebra: Building an Expression from a Table

Count how many days each row represents, write the total for the week, then collect like terms.

Try the question yourself, or watch the lesson first.

Primary 6, on the MOE Primary Mathematics syllabus.

In the Algebra chapter6 question types · see the chapter

The lesson · 2 minutes 4 seconds

How do you build an algebraic expression from a table in P6?

Watch: a week of bicycles rented out, where one row represents for five days

Another worked example

A worked example

A girl is 4p years old. Her brother is twice as old as she is. Her sister is 5 years younger than her brother. Find the total of the three children's ages in 3 years' time. Give your answer in terms of p.

The working · Seven lines

The step-by-step working

Written out in full, the way it should appear on paper.

  1. the girl is 4p
  2. her brother is twice as old, so 8p
  3. her sister is 5 years younger than her brother, so 8p - 5
  4. 4p + 8p + 8p - 5 = 20p - 5
  5. in 3 years' time each of the 3 gains 3 years, so the total gains 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
  6. 20p - 5 + 9 = 20p + 4
  7. total = (20p + 4) years

The answer is (20p + 4) years.

Practise · Modelled on top school exam questions

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Try it yourself

Write the weekly total

Write the expression for the full week before comparing.

A library lent out 6p books on each of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and 2p + 15 books on Friday. How many books did it lend out that week? Give your answer in terms of p, in the simplest form.

DayNumber of books lent out each day
Monday to Thursday6p
Friday2p + 15

Try it yourself first. Then open the solution to compare your answer and working.

Show the step-by-step solution
DayNumber of books lent out each day
Monday to Thursday6p
Friday2p + 15
  1. Monday to Thursday is 4 days, so 4 × 6p = 24p
  2. 24p + 2p + 15 = 26p + 15

Ans: 26p + 15

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Next, use a given total to find the letter. Solving a Simple Linear Equation →

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