Year 9 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 1 — Practice Set 4 — Answers
Answer sheet with worked solutions for the Year 9 algebraic expressions worksheet.
Year 9 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 1 — Practice Set 4 — Answers
Find the highest common factor of the terms and write it outside the brackets.
1.Factorise fully: 6x − 18
Answer: 6(x − 3)
- Highest common factor: 6
- 6x − 18 = 6(x − 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
2.Factorise fully: 10x − 2
Answer: 2(5x − 1)
- Highest common factor: 2
- 10x − 2 = 2(5x − 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
3.Factorise fully: 18x + 81
Answer: 9(2x + 9)
- Highest common factor: 9
- 18x + 81 = 9(2x + 9)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
4.Factorise fully: 20x − 15
Answer: 5(4x − 3)
- Highest common factor: 5
- 20x − 15 = 5(4x − 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
5.Factorise fully: 45x + 18
Answer: 9(5x + 2)
- Highest common factor: 9
- 45x + 18 = 9(5x + 2)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
6.Factorise fully: 9x − 3
Answer: 3(3x − 1)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 9x − 3 = 3(3x − 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
7.Factorise fully: 18x − 12
Answer: 6(3x − 2)
- Highest common factor: 6
- 18x − 12 = 6(3x − 2)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
8.Factorise fully: 5x + 25
Answer: 5(x + 5)
- Highest common factor: 5
- 5x + 25 = 5(x + 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
9.Factorise fully: 24x + 28
Answer: 4(6x + 7)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 24x + 28 = 4(6x + 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
10.Factorise fully: 3x + 3
Answer: 3(x + 1)
- Highest common factor: 3
- 3x + 3 = 3(x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
11.Factorise fully: 35x + 7
Answer: 7(5x + 1)
- Highest common factor: 7
- 35x + 7 = 7(5x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
12.Factorise fully: 45x − 81
Answer: 9(5x − 9)
- Highest common factor: 9
- 45x − 81 = 9(5x − 9)
- 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.