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Year 8 · Patterns & Algebra

Expand a single bracket

Expanding a bracket means multiplying everything inside by the number outside.

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How to do it

  1. Multiply the outside number by the first term.
  2. Multiply it by the second term, keeping the sign.

Worked example

3(x + 4)
3 × x = 3x and 3 × 4 = 12
3x + 12

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Multiply both terms, not just the first.

Practise Expand a single bracket properly

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