Which Is Bigger?

Age 14 to 16

Challenge Level Yellow star

Why do this problem?

This problem highlights the importance of variables in algebraic expressions, and offers opportunities to explore straight line graphs and simple inequalities. By switching between numerical, algebraic and graphical representations, students can gain insights into the effects of changing a variable. The last part of the problem encourages a playful curiosity where students can experiment with graphing software to try to solve each challenge.

Possible approach

Start the lesson by posing the question:

"Which is bigger, $n+10$, or $2n+3$?"

Give students a short amount of time to decide, and then ask them to discuss the justification for their answer in pairs. Look out for any pairs using a graphical argument to support their conclusions.

Share these discussions as a class. (If everyone agrees that one particular expression is bigger, use the reasoning in the problem to generate some controversy.)

"Is there any way we could represent what's going on graphically, to convince ourselves that the first expression is bigger when $n< 7$ and the second expression is bigger when $n> 7$?"

Once there is an understanding that comparison of the expressions depends on the variable $n$, and that the comparison can be done graphically, set the next task:

"For each pair, can you work out when each expression is bigger?" Hand out the worksheet: Which Is Bigger?

Again, give students time to work on this in pairs, making sure they are ready to justify their answers using the insights they have gained.

Finally, set them to work on the challenges offered at the bottom of the problem. One nice way to round off the task could be to plot the graphs on a computer (perhaps using Desmos) and ask each pair of students to read out the expressions they have found.

As the expressions are plotted, the class can decide whether they satisfy the requirements. In order to capture the idea that there are infinitely many sets of expressions that satisfy each condition, students could suggest tweaks to the functions that would still satisfy the conditions.

Key questions

Is one expression always bigger?

How can you decide when each expression is bigger?
Would it help to express the relationship graphically?

Possible support

Which Is Cheaper? might be a more accessible starting point, as it uses concrete examples rather than abstract expressions.

Possible extension

Introduce challenges that require quadratic expressions as well as linear ones.

For example:

"Can you find two expressions so that the first is bigger for $n< 0$ and $n> 3$, but the second is bigger when $n$ is between $0$ and $3$?"

Number and algebra

Geometry and measure

Probability and statistics

Working mathematically

Advanced mathematics

For younger learners

Which Is Bigger?

Why do this problem?

Possible approach

Key questions

Possible support

Possible extension

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