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Year 8 Number and algebra WA8MNAA3 4 pages · 34 questions Core
Year 8 Factorising with a Common Factor Worksheet
Free Year 8 factorising worksheet (WA8MNAA3): taking out the highest common factor, negative factors and checking by expanding. With marking key.
What's covered
- Finding the highest common factor of algebraic terms
- Factorising, including taking out a negative factor
- Checking a factorisation by expanding
About this worksheet
This free Year 8 factorising worksheet is written for the Western Australian curriculum and mapped to SCSA content description WA8MNAA3. It targets one skill so students can practise until it sticks: by the end, students can say “I can factorise expressions by taking out the highest common factor, including negative factors, and check by expanding.”
What’s inside
- Key idea box – a short explanation with worked examples to read before starting.
- A · Fluency (16 questions) – quick practice to build accuracy.
- B · Core (10 questions) – worded problems set in everyday Australian contexts.
- C · Reasoning (4 questions) – explain, justify and spot the error.
- D · Challenge (4 questions) – harder multi-step and problem-solving questions for students ready to stretch.
- Separate marking key – every answer with working, plus mark allocations and marking criteria for reasoning questions.
Skills covered
- Finding the highest common factor of algebraic terms
- Factorising, including taking out a negative factor
- Checking a factorisation by expanding
How to use this worksheet
Start with the Key idea box, then complete Section A (use a calculator only where a question says so). Most students should attempt Sections B and C; Section D suits students aiming for the top of the class or preparing for accelerated or extension maths. The worksheet is marked out of 58, and the score box on the last page helps students see which section needs more practice.
Common mistakes to watch for
- Not taking out the highest common factor
- Leaving out the 1 when a term is fully factored
- Sign errors when taking out a negative
- Forgetting to include pronumerals in the HCF
Where this fits in the WA Year 8 sequence
Factorising with a Common Factor sits in the Algebraic techniques sub-strand of Number and algebra. It is one of a set of short, single-skill EduLift worksheets that split each Year 8 content description into sub-skills. Use the previous and next links to work through the sequence in order.
Common errors we see in tutoring
- Not taking out the highest common factor
- Leaving out the 1 when a term is fully factored
- Sign errors when taking out a negative
- Forgetting to include pronumerals in the HCF
Answer key (with worked solutions)
The answer key is a separate PDF with every question worked, not just the final answers.
Download the answer key (PDF)Stuck on a section? That's what our Year 8 tutors are for.
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