Expanding Brackets (Edexcel A-Level Mathematics): Flashcards

Remove brackets and simplify expressions

Distribute outer term to each inner term

$a(b + c) = ab + ac$

FOIL method

First, Outside, Inside, Last

$(a + b)(c + d) = ac + ad + bc + bd$

Multiply the first terms from each bracket

Multiply the outer terms

Pay attention to signs during distribution

Expand two first, then multiply by remaining

$3x + 12$

$x^2 + 5x + 6$