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: −4x − 20
Answer: −4(x + 5)
- Highest common factor: −4
- −4x − 20 = −4(x + 5)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
2.Factorise fully: 8x2 + 10x − 16
Answer: 2(4x2+5x−8)
- Highest common factor: 2
- 8x2 + 10x − 16 = 2(4x2 + 5x − 8)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
3.Factorise fully: 5ab + 20a
Answer: 5a(b + 4)
- Highest common factor: 5a
- 5ab + 20a = 5a(b + 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
4.Factorise fully: −2x + 4
Answer: −2(x − 2)
- Highest common factor: −2
- −2x + 4 = −2(x − 2)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
5.Factorise fully: 12x2 − 16x + 4
Answer: 4(3x2−4x+1)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 12x2 − 16x + 4 = 4(3x2 − 4x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
6.Factorise fully: 5ab − 20a
Answer: 5a(b − 4)
- Highest common factor: 5a
- 5ab − 20a = 5a(b − 4)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
7.Factorise fully: −40x − 8
Answer: −8(5x + 1)
- Highest common factor: −8
- −40x − 8 = −8(5x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
8.Factorise fully: 4x2 + 10x − 6
Answer: 2(2x2+5x−3)
- Highest common factor: 2
- 4x2 + 10x − 6 = 2(2x2 + 5x − 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
9.Factorise fully: 8ab − 12a
Answer: 4a(2b − 3)
- Highest common factor: 4a
- 8ab − 12a = 4a(2b − 3)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
10.Factorise fully: −21x − 7
Answer: −7(3x + 1)
- Highest common factor: −7
- −21x − 7 = −7(3x + 1)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
11.Factorise fully: 12x2 − 20x − 36
Answer: 4(3x2−5x−9)
- Highest common factor: 4
- 12x2 − 20x − 36 = 4(3x2 − 5x − 9)
- Check by expanding the brackets.
12.Factorise fully: 4ab − 4a
Answer: 4a(b − 1)
- Highest common factor: 4a
- 4ab − 4a = 4a(b − 1)
- 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.