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Prerequisites
- A1a – Using and interpreting algebraic notation (essential)
- A3a – Understanding and using the concepts of expressions, equations, formulas, identities, inequalities, terms and factors (essential)
- N9b – Multiplying and dividing in standard form (helpful for Part 1 Exam-style question 5)
- A4b – Multiplying a single term over a bracket (required for Part 3 only)
- A4d – Multiplying two or more brackets (required for Part 3 only)
A starting point: substitution without numbers
Part 1 – Substituting numerical values into expressions and formulas
Teacher resources
Links to past exam questions
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Part 2 – Substituting to check equations are satisfied
Teacher resources
Links to past exam questions
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Part 3 – Substituting expressions into expressions
This question generator allows you to generate questions on the skill of substitution in context of sequences and finding intersection points by solving simultaneous equations by substitution.
Click on a question’s text to reveal the answer.
In the real world
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What next?
Substitution is a fundamental skill in algebra, along with solving equations. You will use it in many contexts. Two basic situations in which you will use substitution are (1) to plot a graph given its equation and (2) to use formulas to work out some useful information, such as the area of a shape: