2 (a) Simplify - OCR - GCSE Maths - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1

Question 2

2 (a) Simplify.
(i) $a^6 + a^2$
(ii) $(b^5)^3$
(b) Factorise.
$6x - x^2$
Worked Solution & Example Answer:2 (a) Simplify - OCR - GCSE Maths - Question 2 - 2017 - Paper 1
(i) $a^6 + a^2$

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To simplify the expression a6+a2, we can factor out the common factor. The greatest common factor between the two terms is a2. Therefore, we have:
a6+a2=a2(a4+1)
(ii) $(b^5)^3$

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To simplify the expression (b5)3, we will apply the power of a power property of exponents, which states that (xm)n=xmn. Thus, we get:
(b5)3=b5imes3=b15
(b) Factorise.
$6x - x^2$

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To factorise the expression 6x−x2, we begin by noticing that both terms have a common factor, which is x. Therefore, we can factor x out:
6x−x2=x(6−x)
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