Function Machines Mastery
An interactive lesson on screen. Your child works through worked examples, practises on their own, then tests themselves with questions that get harder as they go.
About this lesson
By the end of this lesson your child can build a function machine from a rule, undo it to find the input, and use the same idea to write and solve algebraic expressions. Function machines are the foundation the 11+ and GCSE build every algebra question on, so a shaky grasp here costs marks for years.
Topics covered:
- Forward machines, apply a rule to a number to find the output
- Backward machines, undo a rule using inverse operations to find the input
- Building expressions from a one-step machine
- Building expressions from a two-step and three-step machine
- Algebra machines with one step, for example a machine that outputs 3x + 2
- Algebra machines with two steps
- Algebra machines with three steps
- I'm thinking of a number, worded problems solved by building a machine then reversing it
Your child works through this lesson on any screen. They click to reveal each step of a worked example, try the practice questions on paper, then click to check their own answer.
How it's structured:
- Each unit opens with a worked example your child clicks through line by line, then 10 practice questions colour-coded easy, medium and hard
- 100 questions in total, each with a click-to-reveal answer and a reveal-all option
- A final 20-question mixed challenge pulling from the last three units, where forward machines, backward machines and algebra collide the way they do on a real exam paper
Use this if:
- Your child is in Year 4 to Year 11 and is just meeting function machines and inverse operations for the first time
- You're preparing for the 11+, where "I'm thinking of a number" questions turn up on almost every paper
- Your child is doing GCSE Foundation and needs the machine method solid before algebra builds on top of it
- You want a resource your child can check their own work with, not one more thing on your to-do list
Built by an experienced maths teacher with over 3,000 hours of one-to-one tutoring experience and a Master's in Education.
Format: Interactive digital lesson, link sent by email straight after purchase.
Suitable for: Year 4 to Year 11, 11+, KS2, KS3, KS4, GCSE Foundation.
Who this is for
Built for students who want to practise independently, at their own pace, with clear examples and instant feedback rather than a static worksheet.
What's included
Worked examples
See the method explained step by step before trying it yourself.
Guided practice
Work through questions with answers hidden until you're ready to check.
Exam-style questions
Split easy to hard, so your child is always working at the right level.
How it works
Buy the lesson
Complete checkout securely through Shopify.
Get your link by email
Your lesson link lands in your inbox straight after payment.
Work through it on screen
Open the link on any device and start straight away.
FAQs
How do I access the lesson?
You'll get an email with your lesson link as soon as payment goes through. Click it to open the lesson in any browser, no login and no app to install.
How does the marking work?
There's no typing answers into a box. Your child works it out on paper, then clicks to reveal the correct answer and checks their own work. Full working is shown too, not just the final answer, so mistakes are easy to spot.
Does it work on a phone or tablet?
It works best on a tablet or laptop, where there's more room to read the examples and questions. It'll open on a phone too, but the text and diagrams can feel quite small on a smaller screen.
Can I use the lesson more than once?
Yes. There's no limit on how many times you open the link, so it's there for revision right up to the exam.
What if I lose the link or don't get the email?
Email info@shlc-tutor.co.uk and we'll resend it straight away.
Ready to start?
Link sent to your email, ready in seconds
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