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GCSE Mathematics · key term
To remove brackets by multiplying every term inside them by the factor or expression outside.
Used by AQA, Edexcel and OCR
Specification A4 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
To remove brackets by multiplying the term outside by every term inside.
Revise: Linear Expressions: Simplifying and Single BracketsExpand a factorised answer; if it does not return the original expression term by term, either the common factor or a sign inside the bracket is wrong.
To multiply out brackets using the distributive law and then collect like terms.
Specification A4 · Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3
To multiply a term by every term inside a bracket.
Revise: Basic Algebraic Manipulation and IndicesExpand brackets where needed, simplify products and powers using the index laws, and then collect like terms.
To multiply out brackets so that an equivalent expression is written without those brackets.
Specification 6.01d · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Foundation), Paper 4 (Higher), Paper 5 (Higher), Paper 6 (Higher)
Revise: Expanding BracketsFor three brackets, expand any two first. Collect like terms in that result before multiplying by the remaining bracket. Multiplication is associative, so the pair chosen first does not change the final expression.
After taking out a factor, expand your answer mentally to check that it returns to the original expression.
For “expand and simplify”, multiply every term required and then collect like terms; an uncollected expansion is not fully simplified.
When expanding three binomials, expand two first, keep their result in brackets, and then multiply by the third.
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