Factorising Quadratics AFL-Differentiated

This is a macro enabled spreadsheet to be used with mini white boards.

Three quadratics are randomly generated in the form ax^2+bx+c.

The green question has a=1 and b and c are both positive, ranging from 1 to 12.

The amber question has a=1, but b and c could be either negative or positive, but their absolute values range from 1 to 12.

The red question has a>1 with factors ranging from 1 to 6; b and c could be positive or negative with absolute values ranging from 1 to 12. When factorised, the constant and coefficient in each bracket are mutually prime, so you don’t end up with quadratics that could be factorised in more than one way.

Variables are also randomised for each question with i, l, o, and t omitted as possible variables.

There are a couple of places where you could have a coefficient of 1 that shows, but this is a downfall of Excel (or perhaps my Excel programming skills!). When I use this file in lessons, I use that as an opportunity to remind pupils that you don’t have to write the 1 if you don’t want to do so and that mathematicians rarely do.