If y = 3, then 6y = 63 ... or is it?

Calvin & Hobbes is copyright
Bill Watterson and UPS

Here is a little worksheet I made for students to explore common algebra misconceptions. I'm planning to use it as part of a small-group activity, as a way to elicit discussion about algebra concepts.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByVkChxwrC4DSUl3OGV3Q210S0U/view?usp=sharing

Can you see why someone might think (Calvin in the last panel) that

n + n = 28

even though they have been given no value for n ?

I sourced the algebra misconceptions from

MacGregor, M., & Stacey, K. (1993). What is x? The Australian Mathematics Teacher, 49(4), 28-30.

and Calvin just forced his way onto the page (apologies to Bill Watterson!).