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NSW Curriculum
NSW Education Standards Authority

K–10Mathematics K–10 Syllabus

Record of changes
Implementation for K–2 from 2023 and 3–10 from 2024
Expand for detailed implementation advice

Content

Stage 4

Algebraic techniques
Examine the concept of pronumerals as a way of representing numbers
  • Examine and recognise that pronumerals can be used to represent one or more numerical values and when pronumerals have more than one numerical value, they may then be referred to as variables

  • Identify and define an algebraic expression as an expression formed by combining numbers and algebraic symbols using arithmetic operations

  • Use concise algebraic notation and conventions for multiplication, division and powers, and explain the meanings for each convention

Create algebraic expressions and evaluate them by substitution
  • Generate algebraic expressions by translating descriptions and vice versa

  • Substitute numbers into algebraic expressions and evaluate the result

  • Generate a number pattern from an algebraic expression

Extend and apply the laws and properties of arithmetic to algebraic terms and expressions
  • Generalise the associative property of addition and multiplication to algebraic expressions

  • Generalise the commutative property to algebraic expressions

  • Identify like terms, and add and subtract them to simplify algebraic expressions

  • Simplify algebraic expressions that involve multiplication and division, including simple algebraic fractions

  • Simplify algebraic expressions involving mixed operations

Extend and apply the distributive law to the expansion of algebraic expressions
  • Explain the role and meaning of grouping symbols in algebraic expressions

  • Apply the distributive law to expand and simplify algebraic expressions by removing grouping symbols

Factorise algebraic expressions by identifying numerical and algebraic factors
  • Identify and list factors of a single term

  • Factorise algebraic expressions using knowledge of factors and finding the highest common numerical factor (HCF)

  • Factorise algebraic expressions using knowledge of factors by finding a common algebraic factor, including expressions involving more than 2 terms, and verify the result by expansion

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