Grid Puzzle

Here is a simple multiplication grid.

multiply 3 5

2 6 10

-3 -9 -15

You should be able to work out how we get the numbers in the centre of the grid from those on the
edges. The following number grids follow exactly the same idea.

Puzzle 1 – Fill in the gaps

multiply 7 3xy x+5 2x - 3

-3 -9xy

4x

Puzzle 2 – Fill in the gaps

Multiply 6

3 3x + 15

6x 3x²

2x²+10x 2x² - 4x

4xy – 8y

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Puzzle 3 – Fill in the gaps

1. 2 (x – 3) = ⃝x – 6 2. 5 (2x + 5) =⃝x + 25
3. 3(4x - 7) = ⃝x - ⃝ 4. 2x(3x - 4) =⃝

5. 2 (x + ⃝ ) = 2x + 12 6. 5 (x - ⃝ ) = 5x - 35

7. 4 (⃝x - ⃝ ) = 8x - 20 8. 2 (6 ⃝ - ⃝x ) = 12y – 10x

9. ⃝ (3x + 4) = 15x + 20 10. ⃝ (6a -⃝ ) = 12a – 18b

11. ⃝ (x -⃝ ) = x² - 4x 12. ⃝ (x -⃝ ) = 3x² - 12x

13. ⃝ (⃝ + ⃝ ) = 14x + 21 14. ⃝ (⃝ - ⃝ ) = 36y - 8

15. ⃝ (⃝ + ⃝ ) = 2x² - 5xy

For question 14, there are two possible correct answers. Which of the following do you think is
best/simplest?
A: 2 (18y - 4 ) = 36y – 8
B: 4 (9y - 2 ) = 36y – 8

Putting expression into brackets like you have just done is called factorising. It is the reverse process
of expanding brackets. Use the following example to explain how you do this and how you find the
numbers that go in the squares.

4 ( 9 𝑥 − 2 ) = 36𝑥 − 8
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© Richard Wade, contact@teachmathematics.net

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