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It would be good if students knew that:
As with many Stage 4 algebra-based problems, there is much to gain from students making up similar problems for each other to solve, and especially if group discussion allows appreciation of the different 'ways of seeing' to be shared.
It is always good to distinguish for students identities that are 'equal' because the algebra is equivalent, from situations where the equals sign invites answers to the question 'for what values of the variable will these two expressions be equal in value?' - solving the equation?
Minus One Two Three
Age 14 to 16
Challenge Level 
It would be good if students knew that:
- the product of a pair of linear brackets represents a quadratic form,
- quadratic forms are always symmetric and
- the axis of symmetry of a quadratic form is often worth locating.
As with many Stage 4 algebra-based problems, there is much to gain from students making up similar problems for each other to solve, and especially if group discussion allows appreciation of the different 'ways of seeing' to be shared.
It is always good to distinguish for students identities that are 'equal' because the algebra is equivalent, from situations where the equals sign invites answers to the question 'for what values of the variable will these two expressions be equal in value?' - solving the equation?
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