← Chapter 44 Chapter 45: Expanding Brackets Chapter 46 →

Chapter 45: Expanding Brackets

✏️ Explanation

To expand brackets, multiply each term inside the bracket by the one outside.

🔍 Why It Matters

It allows simplification and solving of algebraic expressions.

📌 Visual Flowchart

🧭 See chart: "Expanding One Bracket" (to be added)
1
Identify the Terms
Find the term outside and terms inside brackets
2
Multiply First Term
Multiply outside term by first inside term
3
Multiply Second Term
Multiply outside term by second inside term
4
Write the Result
Combine the results with proper signs

✏️ Worked Example

Expand: 3(x + 4)
Step 1: Multiply 3 by each term inside
3 × x + 3 × 4
Step 2: Calculate each multiplication
3x + 12

🧮 Interactive Bracket Expander

Expression:
3(x + 4)
Expanded Form:
3 × x + 3 × 4
3x + 12

🔢 Practice Exercises

1. Expand: 2(x + 5)
Answer:
2. Expand: 4(a – 3)
Answer:
3. Expand: –3(x – 2)
Answer:
4. Expand: 5(2x + 1)
Answer:
5. Expand: –2(y + 6)
Answer:

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to multiply both terms
  • Ignoring negative signs

✨ Quick Summary

Multiply everything inside the bracket by the outside term.