Expanding & Simplifying Single Brackets (AQA GCSE Maths): Revision Note

The expression 3x (x + 2) means 3x  multiplied by the bracket (x + 2)

• 3x  is the term outside the bracket

  • this is sometimes called a factor

• and x + 2 are the terms inside the bracket

Expanding the brackets means multiplying the outside term by each term on the inside

• This will remove (get rid of) the brackets

• 3x (x + 2) expands to which simplifies to 

Beware of minus signs

• Remember the rules
  −  ×  −  =  +
  −  ×  +  =  − 

• It helps to put brackets around negative terms

First expand both brackets separately

•  

  • The first set of brackets expands to which simplifies to

  • The second set of brackets expands to which simplifies to

  • So

Then collect like terms

• 

  • The other two terms are not like terms

• So