Any year six maths teachers around?

[Potentialpoochowner]

Could you let me know how a Y6 would solve questions 12 and 22? Thanks in advance!

12 - its a simultaneous equation. So they would be expected to see that since

a + b + c = 26 and b +a = 18

they can take "B+a" from one side of the first equation and 18 from the other side to get

c = 8

which means they can easily work out

b - c =4.

does that help?

Not a maths teacher.

22. Just do it back words. So reflect the shape on y axis, then x + 1, y+ 8.

*backwards!

Q12 is a simultaneous equation but y6 won't have done them.

Though Patricia is broadly right.

Spot that b+a = 18 so a+b+c=26 is the same as 18+c=26
so c=8 and then using b-c=4 you get b=12 and then finally b+a=18 so a=6. Check a+b+c=6+12+8=26 correct.

Q22 Agree with Irvine , work backwards, unreflect and then untranslated.

(Not a maths teacher but experienced).

(I would also expect that many y6s wouldn't be able to do either question correctly.)

Thanks all - very helpful :)

I agree, difficult questions for Y6. I certainly didn’t get taught simultaneous equations till secondary school. Must be ‘greater depth’ questions.

Question 12 is easy for a simultaneous equation. If something similar was presented as a word problem, for example, the cost or weight of different items, then I think it would be a suitable problem solving question. The algebra makes it more abstract, which may be difficult for some children.

If they're in the Singapore mindset of looking for parts and wholes, Q12 isn't unreasonable - it's just a chain of part-part-whole problems. It's hard but no harder than algebra questions on previous KS2 papers.

I've just asked my y6 ds how he would do 12 and he did it exactly as demonstrated with no trouble. However he had no idea how to do no. 22 as he claims not to have been taught any of this. We are in Wales.

It’s not really a simultaneous equation. You just need to understand that a + b = b + a

Then you can say what c is
Etc