Year 8 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 3 — Answers
Answer sheet with worked solutions for the Year 8 algebraic expressions worksheet.
Year 8 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 3 — Answers
Take out the highest common factor. Where the first term is negative, take out a negative factor.
1.Factorise fully: −25x − 45
Answer: −5(5x + 9)
- Highest common factor: −5
- −25x − 45 = −5(5x + 9)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
2.Factorise fully: 3x2 − 15x + 24
Answer: 3(x2−5x+8)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 3x2 − 15x + 24 = 3(x2 − 5x + 8)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
3.Factorise fully: 12ab − 30a
Answer: 6a(2b − 5)
- Highest common factor: 6a
- 12ab − 30a = 6a(2b − 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
4.Factorise fully: −6x − 3
Answer: −3(2x + 1)
- Highest common factor: −3
- −6x − 3 = −3(2x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
5.Factorise fully: 20x2 + 15x + 25
Answer: 5(4x2+3x+5)
- Highest common factor: 5
- 20x2 + 15x + 25 = 5(4x2 + 3x + 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
6.Factorise fully: 12ab + 28a
Answer: 4a(3b + 7)
- Highest common factor: 4a
- 12ab + 28a = 4a(3b + 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
7.Factorise fully: −15x − 12
Answer: −3(5x + 4)
- Highest common factor: −3
- −15x − 12 = −3(5x + 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
8.Factorise fully: 6x2 − 9x − 3
Answer: 3(2x2−3x−1)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 6x2 − 9x − 3 = 3(2x2 − 3x − 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
9.Factorise fully: 8ab + 6a
Answer: 2a(4b + 3)
- Highest common factor: 2a
- 8ab + 6a = 2a(4b + 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
10.Factorise fully: −18x + 3
Answer: −3(6x − 1)
- Highest common factor: −3
- −18x + 3 = −3(6x − 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
11.Factorise fully: 12x2 − 12x + 9
Answer: 3(4x2−4x+3)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 12x2 − 12x + 9 = 3(4x2 − 4x + 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
12.Factorise fully: 15ab + 35a
Answer: 5a(3b + 7)
- Highest common factor: 5a
- 15ab + 35a = 5a(3b + 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
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