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Junior Cycle · Junior Cycle Maths

Junior Cycle Maths: Algebraic expressions

How often Algebraic expressions comes up on the Maths papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Algebraic expressions, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Algebraic expressions.

(a)Evaluate 2x² − 3x when x = −2.
  1. 2
  2. 14
  3. 22
(b)Expand and simplify (2x − 3)(x + 4).
  1. 2x² + 11x − 12
  2. 2x² − 5x − 12
  3. 2x² + 5x − 12
(c)Expand and simplify (x + 2)(x² − 3x + 1).
  1. x³ − x² − 5x + 2
  2. x³ + x² − 5x + 2
  3. x³ − 3x² + x + 2
Show the answers

(a) 14

(b) 2x² + 5x − 12

(c) x³ − x² − 5x + 2

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Algebraic expressions.

Higher Level

Asked on 4 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Q11, Q13
2024Q11
2023Q9, Q13
2022Q4, Q9

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q5, Q12
2025Q10
2024Q12
2023Q12, Q14
2022Q13

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Algebraic expressions questions

Algebraic expressions, 2 marks

Simplify 3x + 5y − x + 2y.

  1. 4x + 7y
  2. 9xy
  3. 2x + 7y
Show the answer

2x + 7y

Collect like terms: 3x − x = 2x and 5y + 2y = 7y. x terms and y terms are unlike, so they cannot be joined.

Algebraic expressions, 2 marks

Find the value of 3a + 2b when a = 4 and b = −5.

  1. −2
  2. 2
  3. 22
Show the answer

2

Substitute: 3(4) + 2(−5) = 12 − 10 = 2. Put negative numbers in brackets so the sign is not lost.

Algebraic expressions, 3 marks

Expand and simplify (x + 3)(x + 5).

  1. x² + 8x + 15
  2. x² + 15x + 8
  3. x² + 15
Show the answer

x² + 8x + 15

Multiply each term by each term: x² + 5x + 3x + 15. Add the middle terms: x² + 8x + 15.

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