Handout: Variable Vocabulary
Understanding the language of algebra.
Key Terms
- Variable
- A symbol (usually a letter like 'x' or 'y') that represents a number we don't know yet. It's a placeholder.
- Expression
- A mathematical phrase that contains numbers, variables, and operators (like +, -, x, Ć·). Example: x + 5
- Equation
- A statement that two expressions are equal. It has an equals sign (=). Example: x + 5 = 10
- Constant
- A number on its own, whose value does not change. In "x + 5 = 10", the numbers 5 and 10 are constants.
Practice: Translate to Algebra
Read the sentence and write it as an algebraic expression or equation. Use 'n' as your variable.
- A number increased by 7.
Answer: _________________________ - The product of a number and 4.
Answer: _________________________ - A number decreased by 10 is 25.
Answer: _________________________ - Five less than a number.
Answer: _________________________ - A number shared between 3 people.
Answer: _________________________
š Teacher Planning Snapshot
NgÄ WhÄinga Ako ā Learning Intentions
Students will develop algebraic thinking and pattern recognition (tÄtai tauira) through te ao MÄori contexts, connecting mathematical reasoning to cultural and real-world problem-solving in Aotearoa.
NgÄ Paearu AngitÅ« ā Success Criteria
- ā Students can identify, describe, and extend patterns using algebraic notation.
- ā Students can explain their mathematical reasoning and connect it to real-world contexts.
Differentiation & Inclusion
Scaffold support: Provide concrete materials and visual representations before moving to abstract notation. Offer entry-level tasks using number patterns, and extension challenges involving proof or generalisation for capable learners.
ELL / ESOL: Pre-teach key mathematical vocabulary (variable, expression, equation, pattern). Allow diagrams and tables as alternate representations. Bilingual glossaries recommended.
Inclusion: Neurodiverse learners benefit from structured step-by-step templates and multiple representations (visual, numeric, algebraic). Avoid time pressure on procedural tasks.
TÄtai (to reckon, count, calculate) reflects the deep mathematical tradition within te ao MÄori ā from whakapapa genealogy structures to wharenui proportional geometry, navigation, and seasonal calendars. MÄtauranga MÄori holds rich pattern-based thinking: tukutuku panel sequences, kÅwhaiwhai scroll patterns, and fishing seasonal cycles all encode algebraic relationships. Algebra taught through these lenses makes abstract thinking visible and culturally grounded.
Hononga Marautanga Ā· Curriculum Alignment
Curriculum alignment for this handout has not yet been verified against the live curriculum statements. A generated placeholder that stood here was removed on 2026-08-29 because it matched no real statement.