Spreadsheet Algebra is a set of resources to help learners understand the algebraic concepts of variables and expressions in the context of spreadsheets.
In my experience teaching algebra to mainly 13 and 14 year olds, they thing they struggle with the most is an understanding of what the letters mean in an Algebraic expressions. My approach is to introduction this concept using Spreadsheets and the cell reference. In this way, students can play with expressions and see how changing a value in one cell, changes the value in another cell due to it having a formula with a cell reference (variable)
Introduction to patterns
This spreadsheet (click here to make a copy) has some basic tasks for learners to explore how they can make number patterns using spreadsheet and use the graph function to see what they look like.
Spreadsheet Algebra App Script
The following spreadsheets have a custom app script that has a new function call =cellformula. By referencing a cell with a formula, the function, called ‘=cellformula’ converts the cell formula (e.g. =2*(B4+3*D4) to ’text book’ algebra (e.g. 2 × a + 6 × b).
Equivalent expressions
The cellformula function is used in the task sheet to investigate equivalent expressions. Learners have to insert formulas that match the expression and then they can see what they equivalent expression looks like in text book algebra. Click here to make a copy of this task sheet.
Solving equations
Learners can use the power of creating formulas then copying them for a range of values to solve algebraic expressions. Click here to make a copy of a spreadsheet with tasks to practice.
Spreadsheet Algebra by Andrew Corney
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
