Expanding Two Sets of Single Brackets

Sarah Allott – [email protected]

www.drfrostmaths.com
@DrFrostMaths

Dr Frost Learning is a registered charity

Last modified: 20/10/2023 in England and Wales (no 1194954)
How to use these slides
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Any atypical use of a slide type, including any change of animation* or intended use, will be outlined in the
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Recap Green click-to-reveal boxes.
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To be used to highlight key concepts or theorems. This could include
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putting into context of other mathematical concepts (past and green click-to-reveal boxes.
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Example To be modelled by the teacher. Solution animates in sequence.
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Dr Frost Learning is a registered charity in England and Wales (no 1194954)
Teacher Notes
Prerequisite Knowledge Representations Used Future Links
• Negative numbers and • Area model • Expanding two or more
arithmetic • Grid method brackets
• Basic algebraic notation • Factorisation into a
• Collecting like terms single bracket
• Order of operations • Binomial expansion
• Expanding a single
bracket

Key: Key Points Solution step – All slides include pedagogical

click to reveal detail in the ‘Notes’ section
! To be written for each slide.
in books Question/Discussion
Dr Frost Learning is a registered charity
Prompt in England and Wales (no 1194954)
Prerequisite Knowledge Check Show all
solutions

1 1
1 Expand: 2 Calculate:
z z
a
? a
?
b
? b
?
c
? c
?
d
? d
?
e
? e
?
f
? f
?
g
? g
?
h ? h ?
Recap

There are three methods we can use to expand a bracket.

Expand

Method 1: Algebra Tiles Method 2: Using a Grid

𝑥 1111
1 𝑥 1111
1
1
𝑥 1111
𝑥 1111
3 𝑥 +12

Method 3: Distributive Law

(multiplying each term inside the bracket by the term outside the bracket)

3 ( 𝑥+ 4) ≡ 3 𝑥+12
Quickfire Questions
a Expand b Expand

𝟏𝟖 𝒙?+𝟐𝟒 𝟏𝟖 𝒙?− 𝟐𝟒

c Expand d Expand

𝟐𝟒 −?𝟏𝟖 𝒙 𝟏𝟖 𝒙?− 𝟐𝟒
Recap

When we have a more complicated expression involving a

bracket, we must use the order of operations.
We expand the brackets first and then collect like terms to
simplify.

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+4 𝑧+8
7 (7 𝑧 + 9) 1
¿49 𝑧 +63+?4 𝑧 + 8 4+ 2¿ ( 6 𝑦 − 8)
?
7 ( 7 𝑧 +9 ) ≡ 49 𝑧 +63 ¿ 4+ 3¿ 𝑦 − 4
1
( 6 𝑦 − 8 ) ≡3 𝑦 −4
? 2
¿𝟑 𝒚 ?
Recap:

When we have a more complicated expression involving a

bracket, we must use the order of operations.
We expand the brackets first and then collect like terms to
simplify.

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

These expressions are

−7
3 (2 𝑑 2 +4 𝑑 − 8) 1 − 4 (2 𝑥 )
−equivalent.
5
¿6 𝑑 + 12 ?𝑑 −24− 7
We are using
≡1+−¿4 (2 𝑥? −5)
2
the additive inverse.

𝟐
? 𝒅 −𝟑𝟏
¿ 𝟔 𝒅 +𝟏𝟐 ¿ 1+¿( − 8 𝑥?+20)
¿ 1− 8 𝑥 +20
¿ 𝟐𝟏 −𝟖 𝒙 ?
Quickfire Questions
a Expand and simplify b Expand and simplify

𝟏𝟖 𝒛?+ 𝟒𝟑 𝟏𝟖 𝒛?−𝟒𝟏

c Expand and simplify d Expand and simplify

𝟒𝟏 −𝟏𝟖
? 𝒛 𝟒𝟑 −𝟏𝟖
? 𝒛
Recap
How might we find a simplified expression for the area of this shape?
15cm

Area = 5cm
7cm

Area =
Where has the come
from in the second
8cm area calculation?

We split this area into two parts – the top section and the bottom section.
Next, we find an expression for the area? of each section.
Our total area can be found by adding these two sub-areas together:
+¿(2?× 8)¿75+¿16
(15 ×5)
The total area is cm2 ?
Test Your Understanding
[KS2 SATs 2002 Paper 2 Q22]
What is the area of this Option A
shape? +¿(7 × 10)
( 4 ×3)
3cm
cm2
?

Option B
+¿(6 × 7)
( 4 ×10)
6cm
cm 2

?
Does it matter how we
split the area?
The Big Idea: Expanding and Simplifying
How might we find a simplified expression for the area of this shape?
cm

Area = 5cm
7cm

Area =
Where has the outside
of the bracket come
cm from?

We split this area into two parts – the top section and the bottom section.
? of each section.
Next, we find an expression for the area

+¿
Our total area is represented by the expression:5( 5 𝑥 +2)2 (2 𝑥 − 1)
Expand each bracket in turn:25 𝑥+ ? +¿
10 4 𝑥 −2
? The total area is
And finally, collect the like terms.
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+¿3 ( 𝑥+2)
5( 𝑥 +1)
Expand each bracket separately:
+¿7 (𝑝 +6)
4( 𝑝+ 3)

5 𝑥+5 3 𝑥 +6 4?𝑝+12
? 7?𝑝 + ?42

¿(5 𝑥+ 5)+¿(3 𝑥 +6) ¿( 4 𝑝 +12)+¿

?( 7 𝑝 + 42)
Notice that the symbol is now distributed ?
over both terms in the blue expansion.
?
By collecting
like terms
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+¿3 ( 𝑥+2)
5( 𝑥 −1)
Expand each bracket separately:
+¿7 (𝑚 −6)
4( 3+𝑚)

5 𝑥− 5 3 𝑥 +6 ? ?𝑚
12+4 7?𝑚−?42

¿(5 𝑥 −5)+¿(3 𝑥 +6) ¿(12+ 4 𝑚)+¿

? ( 7 𝑚 − 42)
The symbol is still distributed over both
terms in the blue expansion.
?
?
Remember: Adding a negative
number is equivalent to
subtracting a positive number
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+¿3 ( 𝑥 −2)
5( 𝑥 −1)
Expand each bracket separately:
+¿7 (6 − 𝑦)
4( 𝑦 −3)

5 𝑥− 5 3 𝑥−6 4?𝑦 −12

? ? ?𝑦
42−7

¿(5 𝑥 −5)+¿(3 𝑥 − 6) ¿( 4 𝑦 −12)+¿

? ( 42− 7 𝑦 )

?
Remember, we prefer to
? write positive terms first
in algebraic expressions
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+¿3 (2 𝑥 −2)
5( 4 𝑥 +1)
Expand each bracket separately:
+¿7 (6 𝑔 +6)
4( 3 𝑔 −3)

20 𝑥 +5 6 𝑥−6 12𝑔
? −12
? ? + ?42
42𝑔

¿(20 𝑥 +5)+¿(6 𝑥 − 6) ¿(12 𝑔 −12)+¿

? ( 42 𝑔+ 42)
?
?
When you’re comfortable,
you can miss out the second
line of working out (shown
in grey)
Quickfire Questions
a Expand and simplify b Expand and simplify

𝟕 𝒚 +𝟑𝟏
? 𝟏𝟎 𝒙
? −𝟐

c Expand and simplify

𝟗 − ?𝟑 𝒑
The Big Idea: Expanding and Simplifying
How might we find a simplified expression for the shaded area?

12cm

Area = 3cm
8cm
5cm
Area =

We split this area into two parts – the shaded section and the unshaded
? sub-section.
section. Next, we find the area of each

Our shaded area is represented by the expression:

?
−
(12 ×8) ¿96−15
(3 × 5)
? The total area is 81cm2.
Finally, we complete the subtraction.
Test Your Understanding
Find the shaded area of the rectangle below?

10cm

?2
cm

15cm

9cm

4cm
The Big Idea: Expanding and Simplifying
How might we find a simplified expression for the shaded area?
cm

Area = 3cm
8cm
cm
Area =

We split this area into two parts – the shaded section and the unshaded section.
?
Next, we find an expression for the area of each section.

? 8 ( 4 𝑥+6−
Our shaded area is represented by the expression: )3 (2 𝑥 −1)
The difficulty arises in expanding and simplifying this expression because we need
?
to subtract the entirety of the second bracket. There are two ways to do this.
We’ll come back to this question later!
 Two Different Methods
Expand and simplify

Callum chose to expand the second Clare chose to expand the bracket
bracket with negative 3 and add the with positive 3, and then subtract the
resulting expansions together. result of that expansion.

Expand each bracket separately: Expand each bracket separately:

4 𝑥+ 4 −3 𝑥 −15 4 𝑥+ 4 3 𝑥 +15
¿( 4 𝑥+ 4)+¿(− 3 𝑥 −15) ¿( 4 𝑥+ 4)−(3 𝑥 +15)
Like before, the symbol is distributed over Notice that the symbol is now distributed
both terms in the blue expansion. over both terms in the purple expansion.
This is the ‘negative of ’.

By collecting
like terms
Two Different Methods

What is the same about each method?

Are there any lines of working out that are the same?
What is different about each method?
Where might Callum and Clare make a mistake?
Which method do you prefer?
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+¿− 3 ( 𝑥+ 2)
5( 𝑥 +1)
Use the additive inverse.
+¿− 7 ( 𝑑+ 6)
4( 𝑑 +3)
Remember that

Expand each bracket separately:

4?𝑑+12
? −7?𝑑 −?42
5 𝑥+5 −3 𝑥 − 6 ¿( 4 𝑑+12)+¿
?( −7 𝑑 − 42)
¿(5 𝑥+ 5)+¿(− 3 𝑥 −6) ¿ 4 𝑑+12+−7 𝑑+− 42
¿ 5 𝑥+ 5+− 3 𝑥 +− 6 ? 𝑑 − 42
¿ 4 𝑑+12 −7
Distribute the symbol over both terms in
the blue expansion.
¿ −𝟑 𝒅− 𝟑𝟎?
¿ 5 𝑥+ 5 −3 𝑥 −6
¿𝟐 𝒙−𝟏 By collecting
Like before, when you feel
confident you can miss out the
like terms line of working shown in grey.
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

+¿− 3 ( 𝑥+ 2)
5( 𝑥 −1)
Expand each bracket separately:
+¿− 7 (𝑦 − 6)
4( 3+ 𝑦)

5 𝑥− 5 −3 𝑥 − 6 ? ?𝑦
12+4 −7?𝑦 + ?42
¿(5 𝑥 −5)+¿(− 3 𝑥 −6) ¿(12+ 4 𝑦)+¿
?( −7 𝑦 + 42)
¿ 5 𝑥 −5 +−3 𝑥 +−6 ¿ 12+ 4 𝑦 +−7 𝑦 + 42
¿ 5 𝑥 −5 − 3 𝑥 −6 ¿ 12+ 4 𝑦 −? 7 𝑦 + 42
¿ 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟏𝟏 ¿ 𝟓𝟒 − 𝟑 𝒚?
Remember, we prefer to
write positive terms first
in algebraic expressions
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

How is this different to the

previous examples?
+¿− 7 (6 − 𝑞)
4( 𝑞 −3)

+¿− 3 ( 𝑥 − 2)
5( 𝑥 −1)
Expand each bracket separately:

4?𝑞−12
? ? +7?𝑞
− 42

5 𝑥− 5 −3 𝑥 +6 ¿( 4 𝑞 −12)+¿
?( 7 𝑞 − 42)
¿ 4 𝑞 −12+ 7 𝑞+− 42
¿(5 𝑥 −5)+¿(− 3 𝑥 +6) ¿ 4 𝑞 −12+? 7 𝑞 − 42
¿ 5 𝑥 −5 +−3 𝑥 +6 ¿ 𝟏𝟏𝒒 −𝟓𝟒?
¿ 5 𝑥 −5 − 3 𝑥+6
¿ 𝟐 𝒙 +𝟏
 Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

How is this different to the

previous examples?
+¿− 6 (2 h+ 4 )
8 (3 − 4 h)

+¿− 3 ( 𝑥 −1)
5( 2 𝑥 +5)
Expand each bracket separately:

24
? −32h
? −12h? −24
?

10 𝑥+25 −3 𝑥 +3 ¿(24 −32 h)

+¿
?( −12 h − 24)
¿ 24 −32 h+− 12h +−24
¿(10 𝑥+ 25)
+¿(− 3 𝑥 +3) ¿ 24 −32 h?−12 h −24
¿ 10 𝑥+ 25+− 3 𝑥 +3 ¿ − 𝟒𝟒 𝒉?
¿ 10 𝑥+ 25 −3 𝑥+ 3
¿ 𝟕 𝒙 +𝟐𝟖
The Big Idea: Expanding and Simplifying
Let’s go back to our introductory question!
How might we find a simplified expression for the shaded (blue) area?

cm

Area = 3cm
8cm
cm
Area =

Our shaded area is represented by the expression:8 ( 4 𝑥+6−

)3 (2 𝑥 −1)
+¿
This is the same as:8 ( 4 𝑥+6 ?
)−3 (2 𝑥 −1)
+¿
? (32 𝑥+ 48)(− 6 𝑥 +3)
Expand each bracket separately:

Simplify your expression. The ?

total area is
Quickfire Questions
a Expand and simplify b Expand and simplify

− 𝒚 ?− 𝟗 𝟏𝟏 −𝟏𝟏
? 𝒅

c Expand and simplify

𝟓 𝒙? + 𝟐
Example Test Your Understanding

Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

8 𝑝 2 ( 3 − 4 𝑝 ) − 6 (2 𝑝+ 4)
Expand each bracket separately:

24?𝑝 −32𝑝
?3 −12 p −24? 𝑝
?
2 2
10 𝑥2 +25 𝑥 3 𝑥2 − 3
?
?
?
Normally, we’d write higher power expressions (an
expression with powers greater than 1) with the
How is this different to the powered terms in descending order
previous examples? (e.g. ).
However, the preference for ‘positive terms first’
outweighs this!
Spot the Mistake
Expand and simplify Expand and simplify

−6 ×− 8=48

has not been

commuted
correctly

Correction Correction
Exam Questions
[Edexcel IGCSE(9-1) June 2018 2F Q8b] [AQA GCSE June 2014 1H Q14a]
Expand and simplify The diagram shows two rectangles.

Show the shaded area, in cm, is given by

?
Expand each bracket in turn
?

Collect like terms

?

?
Large rectangle:
?
Small rectangle:

Shaded area:

?
as required
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)
Show all
solutions

1 Expand and, where necessary, simplify:

a ?
b ?
c ?
d ?
e ?
f ?
g ?
h ?
i ?
j ?
k ?
l
?
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)
Show all
solutions

2 Form simplified expressions for the shaded areas.

5 𝑥−8
a 3𝑥 b
𝟐𝟏 𝒙?−𝟐𝟖
5 6𝑥 2
2
2 𝑥+ 4
6 𝑥 − 14
𝟐
? 𝒙 −𝟖
𝟑𝟎 𝒙 −𝟓𝟐
3 [CCEA GCSE Jan 2015 T2 Foundation Q22b] 𝟏𝟎 𝒙?+𝟏
Expand and simplify

4 [Edexcel IGCSE Jan 2016 2FR Q17a] 𝟐 𝒅 +𝟐𝟐

Expand and simplify
?
5 [Edexcel GCSE Nov2016-2H Q12b] 𝟐
Expand and simplify 𝟑 𝒙 +𝟒
? 𝒙
Exercise (Available as a separate worksheet)
Show all
solutions

6 [AQA GCSE Jan 2013 1H Q13 Edited]

Write in the form , where and are integers to be ?
found.
7 [KS3 SATS 2010 L6-L8 Paper 1 Q12b]
is always 5 more than , so

Complete the following:

a ?
b ?
N [OCR GCSE Nov 2020 3F Q11]

Work out the value of and the value of .

So, , which tells us ?

And
Since , , which tells us