2.4 Expanding brackets · Unit 2 Expressions, formulae and equations

1 · Teaching slidesuse ← → keys

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2 · Key words

bracketsSymbols ( ) that group terms together.

expandTo multiply out the brackets and write the expression without them.

termOne part of an expression.

3 · Summary of the sectionrevise from this

To expand, multiply every term inside the brackets by the term outside.
4(n + 3) means 4 × (n + 3), so it equals 4 × n + 4 × 3 = 4n + 12.
Keep the signs: 2(x − 5) = 2x − 10, not 2x + 10.
A letter can be outside the brackets too: x(x + 6) = x² + 6x.
A negative outside changes every sign inside: −2(x + 3) = −2x − 6.
A minus in front of a bracket means multiply by −1: −(x + 7) = −x − 7.
After expanding two brackets, collect the like terms.
Check your expansion by substituting a number — both forms must give the same value.

PDFPrintable worksheet All 56 questions, space to work PDFWorked answers Full solutions, not just the answer

Video lessons4 videos

Expanding Brackets

British Corbettmaths

Exactly the Stage 7 skill: one bracket, multiplied by a number or a letter.

The Distributive Property Explained

American Math with Mr. J

Why expanding works. (“Distributive property” is the American name for expanding brackets.)

Simplifying Algebraic Expressions: Distributive Property and Like Terms

American Math with Mr. J

Expanding two brackets and then collecting — the skill needed for the harder questions in this section.

Expanding Two Brackets

British stretchCorbettmaths

Beyond Stage 7, but worth seeing if you finish early — it is where this leads next.

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Expanding brackets