Algebraic pyramids

5 replies

BlueSkySunnyDay · 18/03/2013 19:32

Son has pyramids to complete for homework. Unfortunately no completed example and his notes are throwing no light on the subject.

When I google I get straight forward pyramids with numbers on - which are pretty self explanatory - his pyramids though are eg:

base line 2a 4a 3b

We are supposed to build the pyramid upward from there but not a bloody clue. Anyone know of a website where I can get a suitable example of what we are doing with this

OP posts:

meala · 18/03/2013 20:06

The next lines would be:

   10a + 3b
  6a    4a + 3b
2a     4a       3b

You have to add together the two bits next to each other to get the line above. So, 2a + 4a = 6a. Then 4a + 3b can't be written any simpler as "a" and "b" are different letters so they can't be combined. Then to get the top line, you would add together the two algebra terms below. So 6a + (4a+3b) = 10a + 3b.

I think that this is what the homework would mean for an algebra pyramid. Hope he gets it OK.

meala · 18/03/2013 20:08

Sorry, the formatting went a bit weird when I posted, hope you can make sense of it! Here's a link to an upside down version pyramds

Original poster

BlueSkySunnyDay · 18/03/2013 20:11

Thanks so much, it really was not making any sense to us. His teacher did help him with one example but they were all "a" numbers so it was really straight forward.

Strange I could not find a single example of this on the internet and the website where school got the worksheet we would have to subscribe to.

OP posts:

meala · 18/03/2013 20:15

No problem. Glad I was able to help (maths geek!)

Original poster

BlueSkySunnyDay · 18/03/2013 20:18

Well thanks very much maths geek. Any other website i'd probably wait a week for help, this is one of the joys of Mumsnet being so busy!

OP posts:

Flip