Simplification of algebraic expressions can be performed graphically, this would be a useful way to introduce these problems as a classroom activity. The "tiles" could be cut out and shuffled, then it would be for the student to arrange them in a pyramid style hierarchy so that any to tiles would multiply together to form the basis of the tile above. Let's take a look at an example:



If you work from the bottom row, left to right you will be able to see that "2x" multiplied by "y" makes "2xy" which goes into the tile above. Similarly "y" multiplies with "x2" to form "x2y" and so on. Moving to the next row, upwards, we use the previously established values to produce the contents of the row above, we continue in this fashion until we complete the final expression at the top of the pyramid. Click on "questions" below to have a go at a couple of these yourself, by necessity some of the titles will be completed for you. It is for you to establish the contents of the remaining boxes.


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