Algebra — NSW Year 8 Maths
Like terms, multiplying and dividing terms, the index laws, expanding and factorising. Twelve subtopics and 240 practice questions, each with a fully worked solution, aligned to NESA outcomes MA4-ALG-C-01 and MA4-IND-C-01.
Algebra in NSW Year 8
Algebra uses pronumerals to stand for numbers, so one expression can describe many calculations at once. In Year 8, students simplify expressions by collecting like terms and by multiplying and dividing terms, apply the index laws, expand brackets with the distributive law, and factorise by taking out the highest common factor, including a negative one.
The twelve subtopics below start with adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing terms, work through four subtopics on the index laws, then cover expanding, factorising, factorising with negatives, writing expressions from words and substitution. Algebra is one of the 14 topics in NSW Year 8 Maths and sits in the Number and Algebra strand (NESA outcomes MA4‑ALG‑C‑01 and MA4‑IND‑C‑01). Confident algebra is needed straight away for equations and linear graphs, and in Stage 5 for expanding binomial products and factorising quadratics.
Subtopics
Algebra: common questions
What algebra is taught in Year 8 maths?
Year 8 algebra covers like terms, multiplying and dividing terms, the index laws, expanding brackets, factorising with the highest common factor, writing expressions from words, and substituting values, including negative numbers. All 12 subtopics come with worked solutions.
How do you expand brackets in algebra?
Multiply every term inside the bracket by the term outside, then collect like terms. For example, \(2(x - 4) - 3(x + 2) = 2x - 8 - 3x - 6 = -x - 14\).
How do you factorise an algebraic expression?
Find the highest common factor of all the terms, write it outside a bracket, and divide each term by it to fill the bracket. For example, \(15xy - 25x = 5x(3y - 5)\). Expanding the answer should give back the original expression.
Which NESA outcomes cover Year 8 algebra?
Algebraic techniques sit in Stage 4 of the NSW Mathematics K–10 Syllabus (2022) under outcome MA4‑ALG‑C‑01. The index-law subtopics use outcome MA4‑IND‑C‑01, which works with numerical bases in Stage 4.
What comes after algebra in Year 8?
Expanding, factorising and substitution are used straight away to solve equations, including ones with brackets and fractions, and to graph linear relationships. In Stage 5 the same skills extend to expanding binomial products and factorising quadratic expressions.