Hexagonal Algebra Puzzle

The three diagrams on the following pages will ultimately fit together to form a
large hexagon. Before you start the three diagrams must be cut along the
lines to make twenty-four equilateral triangles. For the triangles to be fitted
together, you must find two expressions that are equivalent to one another. To
build up the puzzle, place the edges on which equivalent expressions are
written together, so that the triangles are joined along this edge.

Begin by just finding pairs of matching expressions and placing them edge-to-
edge. As you progress you will find that all of the pieces will eventually link up
to form a large hexagon.

By all means try this by yourself, but it is really designed to be a group activity.
Working with other students will help to highlight any misconceptions you may
have, as well as making the task more enjoyable.

At first glance this may appear to be an easy undertaking, but you will find it
takes quite a lot of thought and errors can be made very easily. Make sure
you check each coupling, or you could be left with one or two pieces that
appear to fit nowhere.

© Susan Wall & MEI, 2004

8 − 3( x − 2)
2 ×
11x

2x 2 + 1
x 4×
(x +
2
3 x
+
7 (7 −
x 2)
5
+ x x (6x 5)
x2 +1
)
5x − 2

3x × 6 x
2
x
4x+ 3x
−
x
2 + −2 12
+
x
x
x− x− 2
3 2 ×3
2x
4(2x − 1) + 1
x(5 − x)

−3 5 )
(4 − x +
7(2
2x×
+ 2 x) 5x +
x 7
12
3 x + 11

x(x + 1)

4)
− 7−
5
x (x 6x

© Susan Wall & MEI, 2004

8 − 2(x + 1)
8x −

3( x − 12)
2
1 4

2 )
22 +
x 2
3 (x
+3 +
− x
x 3 3x 5 6x
×

x2 × (x3 + 3)
x −1
2 2
x ( x + 2)

2
− x
−x 12
x
12 x 2
2 −7 x + 15
3x x −
8 0 1
x2 + 2x − 2 (5 − 2 x )

7+ 6

+x
2(
x 11
3x
2
18 x+ x −7 2
1)
4 (3 x − 7 )
3 + 4 ( x − 1)

4)
− 2x
2 x 2
3(

© Susan Wall & MEI, 2004

x ( 2 x − 7) + 7 x
4 x − 10
+3 x
)

x(
xx+ + 143
2
+
2 4) 2
x+ x
x

6x 2 − x
7 35
x6 + x5

x )
− 2 12 x
x ( 4 3x
4(
9 −2
−3 + + 8
2) 2x
6 x 2 − 12 x
10 x 2 + 7

18
+3
(2 x 4 x
−4 ×
5( 2
2x )−
5x 3x
x−
6 −
4x − 1

3)
x 5 × ( x + 1)

2x
−3
2
2 −8
x x

© Susan Wall & MEI, 2004