Algebra tiles support the representation and manipulation of constant, linear and quadratic expressions. Expressions are built up from tiles corresponding to each of x2, −x2, x, −x, 1, and −1, where the shape and colour indicates the class of tile.

Algebra Tiles make it easy to extend the addition, subtraction, multiplication and division activities presented earlier to algebra, since the ±x and ±x2 tiles behave in the same way as the unit tiles. The activities below help practice working with algebraic expressions using Algebra Tiles, covering expanding brackets, factorising trinomials, and completing the square.



Working with Expressions
Expanding and factoring algebraic expressions with Algebra Tiles

Choose a problem type using the buttons below, and use the Algebra Tiles to complete.

Completed

About the activity

Good visual models illustrate mathematical concepts with clarity—bridging the concrete and the abstract. Algebra tiles are one such model, supporting interactive modelling and problem solving in directed number arithmetic, binomial expansion and factorisation, completing the square and linear equations. Thus they are extremely useful tools for introduction and early work in these important and fundamental topics.

The development of these algebra tile activities was inspired by William Emeny's Great Maths Teaching Ideas blog entry Algebra Tiles - from counting to completing the square.