2.2.1 Expanding One Bracket

What is expanding one bracket?

• When we expand brackets in algebra we ‘get rid of’ the brackets by multiplying out
• Expanding one bracket is done by multiplying everything inside the bracket by the factor that is outside the bracket

Beware of minus signs

Remember the basic rules:
“ − × − = + ”
“ − × + = − ”

How to multiply out

1. Identify the factor outside the bracket
2. Identify the terms inside the bracket
3. Link the outside factor to the inside terms
4. Follow the links to multiply the outside factor by each term inside the bracket