6 WAYS TO DEVELOP ALGEBRAIC THINKING Algebra. Just mentioning the word makes some break out in a cold sweat. However, in an increasingly mathematical and technology-saturated society, helping our children grasp fundamental algebraic concepts will pave the way for future academic success. Contrary to popular belief, learning algebra is not just about solving equations; it combines basic math skills with logical and deductive reasoning and requires a solid grasp of number relationships. These thinking skills, many of which are introduced as early as the third grade, can be practiced at home with some of these fun, practical exercises. Use real-life situations to model the concept of an unknown. The unknown, or x, is one of the most difficult algebraic concepts to grasp. Give your child a more concrete understanding of the proper use of an unknown by using real-life situations such as a family trip: x stands for the number of miles from Denver to Phoenix. Let’s figure out the value of x; x stands for the number of pounds more that you weigh than your younger brother. Let’s find the value of x. Play number games. These are an excellent way to improve number sense and practice mental math skills. Here is an example: I am thinking of an odd, three-digit number. It is a multiple of five. The digit in the hundreds place is one more than the digit in the tens place. There are no zeros in this number. The digits add up to 14. What is the number? (545) When your child becomes good at these, have her write some for you to solve! Use a balancing scale to simulate solving equations. By trying to make both sides of a scale balance, your child will see a concrete example of how equations work. Have your child practice taking weight off of one side, and explain that he needs to take an equivalent amount of weight off the other side in order to make the scale (equation) balance. Practice using different types of weights so your child can see that several light weights (small numbers) need to be taken off the scale to equal one larger weight. Play chess. Teaching your child to play chess is one of the best ways to develop multiple-step thinking. Further, chess is an activity that allows you to spend fun, quality time with your child while developing mathematical thinking and logical reasoning skills. Practice working with fractions and negative integers. These are two basic skills that must be mastered in order for a child to be successful at solving algebraic equations. Fractions can be practiced through hands-on activities around the home such as cooking and measuring. For positive and negative integer practice, a number line or even a thermometer (not digital) can be effective visual tools. Model how to write an equation. Take an every-day situation such as doubling a recipe, calculating gas mileage or figuring out what an item on sale costs, and show your child how that situation translates into a simple equation. By practicing writing equations in various contexts, the dreaded algebra word problem will seem familiar to your child, and not something to be feared. By Jenny Nordman Worksheet Solve for x 1. 2x = 30 2. 5x = 25 3. 3(x + 2) = 96 4. –11x = 11 5. 3x + 10 = 5x + 10 Slope-intercept equation for a line For the following questions, refer to this equation: y = 3x + 5 6. What is the slope of this line? 7. What is the intercept of this line? 8. Does the point x = 2, y = 1 lie on this line? Answers 1. x = 15 2. x = 5 3. x = 30 4. x = -1 5. x = 0 6. 3 or 3/1 7. 5 8. No