Multiplying brackets

When multiplying expressions in brackets, make sure that everything inside the bracket is multiplied by the term (or number) outside the bracket.

Example

Expand \(2(3x + 4)\)

Method 1 - Boxes

Boxes method

Method 1 - Boxes

What is 2(3x + 4)?

Method 2 - Lines

Lines method

Method 2 - Lines

What is 2(3x + 4)?

curriculum-key-fact
Use either method, but remember that everything inside the bracket must be multiplied by the term (or number) outside the bracket.

Bracket × bracket

What happens when we have more than a single term or number outside the bracket? What happens when we have another bracket?

For example, if we want to expand \((a + b)(c + d)\), we need to make sure that everything in the first bracket is multiplied by everything in the second bracket.

We can do this in two ways, using boxes or lines.

Method 1 - Boxes

Boxes method

Method 1 - Boxes

Expand (a + b)(c + d)

Method 2 - Lines

Lines method

Method 2 - Lines

Expand (a + b)(c + d)

curriculum-key-fact
You can choose either method, boxes or lines, but make sure that you multiply everything. Also remember that a + or - sign belongs to the number or term immediately after it.

Example

Expand \((x - 3)(x + 2)\)

Here are both methods, using boxes and lines:

Boxes method

Method 1 - Boxes

Expand (x - 3)(x + 2)

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