Year 9 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 1 — Practice Set 3 — Answers
Answer sheet with worked solutions for the Year 9 algebraic expressions worksheet.
Year 9 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 1 — Practice Set 3 — Answers
Find the highest common factor of the terms and write it outside the brackets.
1.Factorise fully: 18x + 15
Answer: 3(6x + 5)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 18x + 15 = 3(6x + 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
2.Factorise fully: 5x + 45
Answer: 5(x + 9)
- Highest common factor: 5
- 5x + 45 = 5(x + 9)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
3.Factorise fully: 10x − 14
Answer: 2(5x − 7)
- Highest common factor: 2
- 10x − 14 = 2(5x − 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
4.Factorise fully: 24x − 16
Answer: 8(3x − 2)
- Highest common factor: 8
- 24x − 16 = 8(3x − 2)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
5.Factorise fully: 16x − 12
Answer: 4(4x − 3)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 16x − 12 = 4(4x − 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
6.Factorise fully: 15x + 27
Answer: 3(5x + 9)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 15x + 27 = 3(5x + 9)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
7.Factorise fully: 21x − 28
Answer: 7(3x − 4)
- Highest common factor: 7
- 21x − 28 = 7(3x − 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
8.Factorise fully: 12x + 8
Answer: 4(3x + 2)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 12x + 8 = 4(3x + 2)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
9.Factorise fully: 12x + 20
Answer: 4(3x + 5)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 12x + 20 = 4(3x + 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
10.Factorise fully: 6x + 9
Answer: 3(2x + 3)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 6x + 9 = 3(2x + 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
11.Factorise fully: 35x − 28
Answer: 7(5x − 4)
- Highest common factor: 7
- 35x − 28 = 7(5x − 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
12.Factorise fully: 3x + 24
Answer: 3(x + 8)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 3x + 24 = 3(x + 8)
- 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.