Final answer:
To check his equivalent expression, Malik can substitute values into both expressions to see if they match, ensure the answer fulfills the requirements of the problem, and confirm that the answer is reasonable in magnitude, sign, and units.
Step-by-step explanation:
Malik's teacher can advise him to employ various methods to check his answer after writing an equivalent expression. The key steps to ensure the answer is correct include:
- Substitute values into the original and the equivalent expression to see if they yield the same result.
- Looking at the problem requirements and making sure that the answer fulfils them.
- Confirming that the answer is reasonable in terms of magnitude, sign, and units.
These steps help ensure that Malik has not made an error in his calculations or logic. Malik should remember to consider the context and units of his answer, as a result that is too large, too small, or has the wrong units may indicate a mistake.