Expanding Brackets

Examples, videos and solutions to help GCSE Maths students learn how to expand algebraic expression by expanding brackets.

Expanding Single Brackets
In algebra, expanding brackets means to remove the brackets.
To expand brackets, we multiply everything on the inside by whatever is next to the bracket on the outside.
Make sure you include the sign.
There are different methods we can use to expand brackets: a jumping method or by using a grid.
Example:
2(3x - 4) = 6x - 8.
-3(2a - 5b) = -6a + 15b.

• Show Video

GCSE Maths - Expanding Single Brackets
Expand the following:
2(x + 1)
2(x - 1)
2(x + 2)
2(x + 3)
2(4x + 3)
3(x + 3)
3(x - 4)
-3(x - 4)
-3(4 - x)
4(2x - 1)
4(2x - 3)
9(3x + 7)
12(5x - 4)
-6(-5x + y)
x(x + 1)
x(x - 1)
x(x - 3)
x(2x - 3)
x(4x + 5)
2x(x + 7)
2x(7 + x)
2x(7 - x)

• Show Video

GCSE Tutorial Expanding Double Brackets GCSE maths
Expand and simplify:

1. (x + 1)(x - 3)
2. (x + 2)(x - 4)
3. (2x + 3)(x - 7)
4. (2x + 5)(3x - 2)
5. (2x - 7)(3x + 2)
6. (3x + 4)(2x - 5)
7. (5x + 2)(7x - 3)
8. (4x + 8)(3x - 2)
9. (4x - 4)(2x + 1)
10. (3x + 2y)(2x + 3y)
11. (4x + y)(x + 3y)
12. (x - 4)(2x - 6)
13. (x + 1)²
14. (3x + 2)²
15. (5x - 2)²
16. (3x + 4)²

• Show Video

Expanding Brackets & Factorising GCSE Maths
(a) Expand x(x + 2)
(b) Factorise 15x - 10
(c) Expand and simplify (x + 3)(x - 4)

• Show Video

Factorise, expand brackets & simplify Algebra GCSE Maths revision Exam paper practice & help
(a) Expand 5(x + 7)
(b) Factorise 3x - 12
(c) Expand and simplify 3(5x + 12) - 4(2x - 1)

• Show Step-by-step Solutions

Check out our most popular games!

We welcome your feedback, comments and questions about this site or page. Please submit your feedback or enquiries via our Feedback page.