Mastering Algebra: Expanding Brackets

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• Maths
• Upper Secondary (Key Stage 4)
• GCSE

Mastering Algebra: Expanding Brackets

What do you already know about expanding brackets in algebra?

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to expand brackets in algebraic expressions, apply step-by-step techniques, and solve related practise questions.

What Does 'Expanding Brackets' Mean?

Expanding brackets means multiplying each term inside the bracket by the term outside. For example, 2(x + 3) means 2 times both x and 3.

Step-by-Step: Single Bracket Expansion

Example: Expand 3(y + 5). Step 1: Multiply 3 by y: 3 × y = 3y. Step 2: Multiply 3 by 5: 3 × 5 = 15. Expanded form: 3y + 15.

Let's Try Together

Expand the following: 4(a + 2) Work it out before moving on!

Check Your Answer

4 × a = 4a 4 × 2 = 8 So, 4(a + 2) = 4a + 8.

Practise: Expand These

1) 5b + 15 2) 2x + 14 3) 6m - 24 4) 7y + 56 5) 3p - 6

Answers

1) 5(b + 3) 2) 2(x + 7) 3) 6(m - 4) 4) 7(y + 8) 5) 3(p - 2)

Questions

Your Turn: 5 Practice Questions

Try these on your own: 1) 8(x + 5) 2) 2(k - 6) 3) 4(t + 11) 4) 9(q - 4) 5) 7(n + 2)

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.