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Maths Quiz - Level 5-6 Algebra - Expressions (Questions)

Expressions are super important in algebra and all of maths. This KS3 Maths quiz is all about interpreting expressions. You may think algebra is no use in real life, but you would be very wrong!

So, when would we use algebra in real-life situations? You'll find lots of examples below. Keep in mind, the reason we study anything in maths is to eventually use it in everyday life!

Discover the Fun of Learning with Quizzes!

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An expression is like a maths sentence. It's numbers and symbols grouped together to show the value of something. In algebra, think of an expression as symbols representing a number or quantity. Expressions can have any mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. Even a lone number by itself is an expression.

Think you're an expression pro? Test your skills by playing this quiz! Take your time, read each question carefully, and give it your best shot. Good luck!

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1. Peter has a number of brothers (let's call the number 'x') and John has two brothers more than Peter. How would you write the number of brothers that John has?
[ ] 2x
[ ] -2x
[ ] x - 2
[ ] x + 2
2. There are y number of students in a class. If seven of the students are away ill, how would you write the number of students still attending class?
[ ] 2y
[ ] 7 - y
[ ] y - 7
[ ] y + 7
3. In the first three football matches of the season James scored x goals. In the fourth match James scored two goals and in the fifth match he scored one goal. How would you write the total number of goals that James scored?
[ ] 12x
[ ] 2x + 1
[ ] x + 2 + 1
[ ] x + x + x
4. There were x pens in the cupboard. Paula took out three pens, John took out two pens and Pamela put seven pens back into the cupboard. How would you write the number of pens now in the cupboard?
[ ] 2x + 3x
[ ] x - 3 - 2 + 7
[ ] x + 3 + 2 - 7
[ ] x + 3 + 2 + 7
5. On a chess board there are eight squares across and eight squares down. Which of these would be the best way of writing the number of squares?
[ ] 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8
[ ] 8 x 8 x 8 x 8
[ ] 82
[ ] 8x
6. There are x number of chess boards at the school chess club. What is the total number of squares on all the boards?
[ ] 64x
[ ] 64 - x
[ ] 64 + x
[ ] It is impossible to say
7. Joseph has x rabbits and Sam has three more rabbits than Joseph. How many rabbits have they between them?
[ ] 3x
[ ] x + 3
[ ] x + x + 3
[ ] x + x - 3
8. Five people each start the day with x sweets. During the day, each of them eat two of their sweets. What is the total number of sweets that have not been eaten at the end of the day?
[ ] 5(x - 2)
[ ] 5 - x
[ ] 10 - x
[ ] x - 10
9. Solution a boils at x degrees centigrade. Solution b has a boiling point five degrees higher than solution a. Solution c has a boiling point 25 degrees higher than solution b. How would you express the boiling point of solution c?
[ ] x + 5 + 25
[ ] x + b + c
[ ] x + y + z
[ ] xyz
10. It takes a person five minutes to pick a sack of potatoes. How long will it take z people to pick 20 sacks of potatoes? You may assume that all the people work together to fill the same sack before moving onto the next sack. Give your answer in minutes.
[ ] 20 + z minutes
[ ] 20 x 5 / z minutes
[ ] 20z minutes
[ ] z - 20 minutes

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Expressions and formulae

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Maths Quiz - Level 5-6 Algebra - Expressions (Answers)
1. Peter has a number of brothers (let's call the number 'x') and John has two brothers more than Peter. How would you write the number of brothers that John has?
[ ] 2x
[ ] -2x
[ ] x - 2
[x] x + 2
If John has two brothers more than Peter (x) then he must have x + 2 brothers
2. There are y number of students in a class. If seven of the students are away ill, how would you write the number of students still attending class?
[ ] 2y
[ ] 7 - y
[x] y - 7
[ ] y + 7
In algebra the letters 'a' and 'x' are often used to represent unknown numbers but any letter can be used
3. In the first three football matches of the season James scored x goals. In the fourth match James scored two goals and in the fifth match he scored one goal. How would you write the total number of goals that James scored?
[ ] 12x
[ ] 2x + 1
[x] x + 2 + 1
[ ] x + x + x
Don't get baffled with complicated questions. Sort out just the information that is required
4. There were x pens in the cupboard. Paula took out three pens, John took out two pens and Pamela put seven pens back into the cupboard. How would you write the number of pens now in the cupboard?
[ ] 2x + 3x
[x] x - 3 - 2 + 7
[ ] x + 3 + 2 - 7
[ ] x + 3 + 2 + 7
There are now x + 2 pens in the cupboard
5. On a chess board there are eight squares across and eight squares down. Which of these would be the best way of writing the number of squares?
[ ] 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8
[ ] 8 x 8 x 8 x 8
[x] 82
[ ] 8x
8 lots of 8 is the same as 8 x 8 or 82
6. There are x number of chess boards at the school chess club. What is the total number of squares on all the boards?
[x] 64x
[ ] 64 - x
[ ] 64 + x
[ ] It is impossible to say
The correct answer means 64 times x. If we were then told that there were four boards at the club we could work out that the total number of squares was 256 (64 x 4)
7. Joseph has x rabbits and Sam has three more rabbits than Joseph. How many rabbits have they between them?
[ ] 3x
[ ] x + 3
[x] x + x + 3
[ ] x + x - 3
If Joseph has x rabbits then Sam has x + 3 so, between them, Joseph and Sam have x + x + 3 or 2x + 3
8. Five people each start the day with x sweets. During the day, each of them eat two of their sweets. What is the total number of sweets that have not been eaten at the end of the day?
[x] 5(x - 2)
[ ] 5 - x
[ ] 10 - x
[ ] x - 10
If you answered x - 10 then you need to remember that EACH PERSON started with x sweets. x sweets DOES NOT represent the total number of sweets at the start
9. Solution a boils at x degrees centigrade. Solution b has a boiling point five degrees higher than solution a. Solution c has a boiling point 25 degrees higher than solution b. How would you express the boiling point of solution c?
[x] x + 5 + 25
[ ] x + b + c
[ ] x + y + z
[ ] xyz
Don't get baffled! Write it down and work it out
10. It takes a person five minutes to pick a sack of potatoes. How long will it take z people to pick 20 sacks of potatoes? You may assume that all the people work together to fill the same sack before moving onto the next sack. Give your answer in minutes.
[ ] 20 + z minutes
[x] 20 x 5 / z minutes
[ ] 20z minutes
[ ] z - 20 minutes
If it takes 5 min for one man, then 2 men will take 1/2 that time, 3 men will take 1/3 that time,... z men will take 1/z of that time - that is 5/z min for each sack. Therefore, 20 sacks will take 20 x 5/z min. Of course, if they each filled their own sack, it would only take 5 min to fill 20 sacks