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Created 7/7/19. Updates available online.

Expression Exchange

Expression Exchange Screenshot
  • Equivalent Expressions
  • Evaluating Expressions
  • Simplifying Expressions

Topics

  • Equivalent Expressions
  • Evaluating Expressions
  • Simplifying Expressions

Description

Build coin expressions, then exchange them for variable expressions. Simplify and evaluate expressions until you are ready to test your understanding of equivalent expressions in the game!

Sample Learning Goals

  • Simplify expressions by combining like-terms
  • Contextualize coefficients and like/unlike-terms
  • Interpret an expression in both abstract and concrete representations
  • Build an expression that is equivalent to a target

Standards Alignment

Common Core - Math

3.OA.A.1
Interpret products of whole numbers, e.g., interpret 5 × 7 as the total number of objects in 5 groups of 7 objects each. For example, describe a context in which a total number of objects can be expressed as 5 × 7.
 5.OA.A.1
Use parentheses, brackets, or braces in numerical expressions, and evaluate expressions with these symbols.
 6.EE.A.2
Write, read, and evaluate expressions in which letters stand for numbers.
 6.EE.A.2b
Identify parts of an expression using mathematical terms (sum, term, product, factor, quotient, coefficient); view one or more parts of an expression as a single entity. For example, describe the expression 2 (8 + 7) as a product of two factors; view (8 + 7) as both a single entity and a sum of two terms.
 6.EE.A.3
Apply the properties of operations to generate equivalent expressions. For example, apply the distributive property to the expression 3 (2 + x) to produce the equivalent expression 6 + 3x; apply the distributive property to the expression 24x + 18y to produce the equivalent expression 6 (4x + 3y); apply properties of operations to y + y + y to produce the equivalent expression 3y.
 6.EE.A.4
Identify when two expressions are equivalent (i.e., when the two expressions name the same number regardless of which value is substituted into them). For example, the expressions y + y + y and 3y are equivalent because they name the same number regardless of which number y stands for..
Version 1.1.7

Teacher Tips

Download teacher tips PDF Overview of sim controls, model simplifications, and insights into student thinking ( PDF ).

Teacher-Submitted Activities

Title Gold Star Contribution Contribution by PhET Authors Level Type Subject
Adding and Subtracting Expressions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Amanda McGarry MS Guided Mathematics
Algebraic Expressions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Amanda McGarry MS Guided Mathematics
Generating Equivalent Expressions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Amanda McGarry MS Guided Mathematics
Equivalent Expression Exploration A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Kimberly Struck MS Guided Mathematics
Like Terms and How to Combine Them A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Julie Carres MS Guided Mathematics
Comparing Equivalent Expressions A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. Pam Brenner MS
HS		 Guided Mathematics
CCSS Math Alignment with Sims This contribution was designed by PhET. Amanda McGarry K-5
HS
MS		 Other Mathematics
Variables and Coefficients Lisa Nitzsche K-5
MS		 Discuss
Guided		 Mathematics
Adding Negations Julie Carres MS Guided Mathematics
Comparando expresiones equivalentes A gold star indicates high-quality, inquiry-based activities that follow the PhET design guidelines. This contribution was designed by PhET. Pam Branner, traducción de Diana López MS
HS		 Guided Mathematics

Share an Activity!

Language Download or Run Tips
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Basque All Basque Run now Adierazpen-aldaketa
Bosnian All Bosanski Run now Novčići (Algebarski izrazi)
Chinese (Simplified) All 中文 (中国) Run now 表达式变换
Chinese (Traditional) All 中文 (台灣) Run now Expression Exchange_代數的表示法
Croatian All hrvatski Run now Algebarski izrazi
Danish All Dansk Run now Ændring af udtryk
Dutch All Nederlands Run now Uitdrukkingen omwisselen
Finnish All suomi Run now Lausekkeen vaihto
French All français Run now Échange d'expression
German All Deutsch Run now Terme Komponieren
Greek All Ελληνικά Run now Expression Exchange
Hungarian All magyar Run now Jelcserés számadás
Italian All italiano Run now Espressioni
Japanese All 日本語 Run now 代数式を作ろう
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Korean All 한국어 Run now 식 교환
Latvian All Latviešu Run now Izteiksmes
Maori All Maori Run now Whakawhitiwhiti Whārite
Marathi All मराठी Run now पदावली शोध
Mongolian All Монгол (Монгол) Run now Шуурхай Өөрчлөх
Polish All polski Run now Wyrażenia algebraiczne
Portuguese (Brazil) All português (Brasil) Run now Expressões
Russian All русский Run now Рациональные выражения
Serbian All Српски Run now Новчићи (Алгебарски изрази)
Spanish All español Run now Cambio de Expresiones  Download teacher tips PDF
Spanish (Mexico) All español (México) Run now Cambio de Expresiones  Download teacher tips PDF
Spanish (Peru) All español (Perú) Run now Cambio de Expresión
Swedish All svenska Run now Arbeta med Uttryck
Vietnamese All Tiếng Việt Run now Biểu thức

The new HTML5 sims can run on iPads and Chromebooks, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux systems.

iPad:
iOS 11+ Safari
iPad compatible sims

Android:
Not officially supported. If you are using the HTML5 sims on Android, we recommend using the latest version of Google Chrome.

Chromebook:
Latest version of Google Chrome
The HTML5 and Flash PhET sims are supported on all Chromebooks.
Chromebook compatible sims

Windows Systems:
Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer 11, latest version of Firefox, latest version of Google Chrome.

Macintosh Systems:
macOS 10.9.5+, Safari 9+, latest version of Chrome.

Linux Systems:
Not officially supported. Please contact phethelp@colorado.edu with troubleshooting issues.

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Amanda McGarry (lead designer)
  • John Blanco (developer)
  • David Webb
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Ariel Paul
  • almond-0.2.9.js
  • base64-js-1.2.0.js
  • easing-equations-r12
  • FileSaver-b8054a2.js
  • font-awesome-4.5.0
  • game-up-camera-1.0.0.js
  • himalaya-0.2.7.js
  • jama-1.0.2
  • jquery-2.1.0.js
  • lodash-4.17.4.js
  • pegjs-0.7.0.js
  • seedrandom-2.4.2.js
  • text-2.0.12.js
  • TextEncoderLite-3c9f6f0.js
  • Tween-r12.js
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