Year 9 Factorising Expressions (Common Factors) Worksheet — Level 3 — Answers
Answer sheet with worked solutions for the Year 9 algebraic expressions worksheet.
Year 9 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: −14x + 49
Answer: −7(2x − 7)
- Highest common factor: −7
- −14x + 49 = −7(2x − 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
2.Factorise fully: 4x2 + 8x − 6
Answer: 2(2x2+4x−3)
- Highest common factor: 2
- 4x2 + 8x − 6 = 2(2x2 + 4x − 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
3.Factorise fully: 3ab − 15a
Answer: 3a(b − 5)
- Highest common factor: 3a
- 3ab − 15a = 3a(b − 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
4.Factorise fully: −7x − 49
Answer: −7(x + 7)
- Highest common factor: −7
- −7x − 49 = −7(x + 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
5.Factorise fully: 5x2 − 10x − 45
Answer: 5(x2−2x−9)
- Highest common factor: 5
- 5x2 − 10x − 45 = 5(x2 − 2x − 9)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
6.Factorise fully: 18ab − 24a
Answer: 6a(3b − 4)
- Highest common factor: 6a
- 18ab − 24a = 6a(3b − 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
7.Factorise fully: −6x − 3
Answer: −3(2x + 1)
- Highest common factor: −3
- −6x − 3 = −3(2x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
8.Factorise fully: 4x2 − 28x + 12
Answer: 4(x2−7x+3)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 4x2 − 28x + 12 = 4(x2 − 7x + 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
9.Factorise fully: 6ab − 24a
Answer: 6a(b − 4)
- Highest common factor: 6a
- 6ab − 24a = 6a(b − 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
10.Factorise fully: −18x + 42
Answer: −6(3x − 7)
- Highest common factor: −6
- −18x + 42 = −6(3x − 7)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
11.Factorise fully: 15x2 + 15x − 20
Answer: 5(3x2+3x−4)
- Highest common factor: 5
- 15x2 + 15x − 20 = 5(3x2 + 3x − 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
12.Factorise fully: 6ab − 4a
Answer: 2a(3b − 2)
- Highest common factor: 2a
- 6ab − 4a = 2a(3b − 2)
- 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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