Year 9 Algebra: Expanding and Factorising!

Name: ______________________________________

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 Expanding Brackets
When we expand brackets, we get rid of the brackets. To do this, we need to multiply ________________ in the
brackets by what’s ____________ outside the brackets. We can do this with _______ set of brackets, or with more!
It’s important that you draw the _____________ to show what you’ve done and do each value in order. Each line
should ____________ the ones before it.

You’ll notice that in this example, there are __________________________ so this is as far as we can go.
But remember, we care about like terms when we are adding and subtracting. When you need
to expand 2 sets of brackets, do one at a time and then collect like terms.

Remember to watch those negatives! They must ______________ with the number or letter after them.

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In each of these cases, notice that there are no brackets right next to each other.
Expand the following brackets. For each of the following questions, draw in the arrows and box off each
negative number. Show all working and make sure each line is equal to the line above it.
1. 8( x +2)
5. – x (x – 7)

6. −2 x( x – 9)
2. 7( 2 x−5)

7. x (2 x +1)+2(2 x+1)
3. 4 ( x +3)

4. 2(6 x – 1)

8. 5 x (2 x +5)−4(3 x – 8)

Expand these Brackets and simplify if possible

1) 2(r + t) 10) -8h(-2h – 4j)

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 11) 2ab (5a2 – 4b3)

2) 7(e – d)

12) 3y3 (2y9 + 3k12)

3) a(b – c)

4) 6(4p + 4) 13) 5a3 (6a12 - t4)

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5) -3(4r + 2w)

6) 9(4d – 3r)

14) 3r4t2 (4t + 2r7)

7) 4r(6 + 2r)

8) -2a(4b – 3) 15) 9y3p2 (8y7 – 6p)

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9) 6j(3k + 8h)

16) 2t3 (10r-1 + t8 + 5)

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 Evaluation of Learning

Circle how confident are you at Expanding

Brackets? (5 the highest)

1 2 3 4 5

If you circled 3 or below, try these

4 (3r + d)

7y (2 + 3y)

3k (k – 6n)

If you circled 4 or 5, try these

-12m(4m – 2h)

6a2b3 (3a4 + 5b8)

(b+3)2

Binomial Expansion
What about when we have 2 sets of brackets right next to each other? Between the brackets in the image
below, there is a little ____ sign, so we are __________ these brackets together. To do this, we need to

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multiply ____________ in the first bracket but ____________ in the second bracket. We can use the
acronym FOIL to help us to do this.

F = __________ the firsts of each bracket

ADD
O = __________ the outers of each bracket
ADD
I = __________ the inners of each bracket
ADD
L = __________ the lasts of each bracket

Some egs:

Again, make sure you box off all negative numbers, and do each step one at a time. Draw in the arrows to
ensure you’ve completed each multiplication and collect like terms at the end!  Try these:
( x +4 )( x+5) (2 a+3)(3 a+ 4) (b – 3)(b+4 )

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Expanding with two brackets
2(a+4) + 3(a+5) Watch out
Treat it like two separate questions
for
2(a+4) = 2a+8
multiplying
3(a+5) = 3a+15

Then simplify  5a+23

negatives!

4(b+4) – 2(b-3)

Treat like two separate questions

4(b+4) = 4b+16
-2(b-3) = -2b+6

Then simplify  2b+22

Expand and simplify

1) 2(w+7) + 4(w+2) 4) 6(b+6) + 5(b-4)

2) 5(p+3) + 2(p+1) 5) 3(t+5) – 2(t+1)

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3) 7(m-3) + 3(m+5) 6) 4(x-3) – 5(x-4)

7) 2(x-9) – 8(x-7)

Evaluation of Learning
Circle how confident are you at Expanding
Two Brackets? (5 the highest)
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 1 2 3 4 5

If you circled 3 or below, try these

5 (2d + 4)

3s (2 + 2s)

-2 (4 – 6g)

If you circled 4 or 5, try these

10(x – 2) + 9(x – 2)

- 2(4x2 – 3) - 5(3 – 2x)

7p2(x + 2) – 9x(5 – 2p)

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 Expanding Binomial Products
A binomial product contains 2 sets of brackets, multiplied together. To expand such a question, we can use
the FOIL method. Give the questions below a go. Show ALL working.

Steps
__________ the firsts, outers, inners
and lasts then ________ them. Then
collect __________ _________.

(x +3)(x+ 6) (3 x+ 4)( x +10)

(x +3)(x+ 2) (x−5)( x +6)

(2 x+1)(3 x+ 4) (3 x−1)(5 x +2)

(x−2)(x−7)

How might you expand the following? Think about the different expanding questions we’ve done so far.
x ( x−2)( x+ 3) x (3 x+ 2)(5 x−6)

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Sometimes you might get a question that involves 2 different letters like this. Continue with the questions
below.

9. (2 c +7)(4 v +2) 10. (5 d +2)(4 h+8)

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 Expanding Double Brackets
Crabs Claw
Watch out for
(y+2)(y+3)
multiplying
y x y = y2
y x 3 = 3y negatives!
2 x y = 2y
2x3=6

Then simplify y2 + 5y + 6

Grid Multiplication

(y-3)(y+4)

y -3
y y2 -3y
4 4y -12

Then simplify y2 + y -12

Expand and Simplify

1) (x + 4)(x + 5) 4) (y – 6 )(y – 6 )

5) (m – 5)(m + 10)
2) (w + 7)(w + 3)

6) (4t – 3)(5t + 2x)

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 3) (p + 2)(p – 4)

Evaluation of Learning
Circle how confident are you at Expanding
Double Brackets? (5 the highest)

1 2 3 4 5

If you circled 3 or below, try these

(w + 4) (w + 2)

(r + 3)(r - 8)

(t – 3) (t – 6)

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If you circled 4 or 5, try these
(3x – 4)(x – 2)

(4x2 – 3)(3 – 2x)

(7p2 – 9x)(5 – 2p)

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Worded Questions
Worded Questions are always the most challenging in maths. But they are doable if you follow a few
simple rules. Read the following and work through the examples. You’ll notice that some simple area and
perimeter knowledge is required for these questions, but don’t over complicate that for yourself – you
know that stuff already! It doesn’t matter if you’re dealing with numbers like you’re used to, or with
algebra, it’s exactly the same! And the best place to start? DRAW A DIAGRAM!!

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Try the following questions. Show all working and remember to show the appropriate units!!!

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There are some special rules that help us when certain patterns in binomial products arise.

PERFECT SQUARE POSITIVES:

¿
Therefore, expand the following:
¿

(5+6 a)( 5+ 6 a)

PERFECT SQUARE NEGATIVES:

¿
Therefore, expand the following:
¿

(5 – 6 a)( 5 – 6 a)

DIFFERENCE OF 2 SQUARES
This one is slightly different as it includes BOTH a positive and negative sign
when expanded out. There is a ‘difference’ of the 2 squares. It is ALWAYS
NEGATIVE when simplified.
2 2
a – b =(a+b)( a – b)
Therefore, what would the following equal?
2
x −25 ( x +10)( x – 10)

(a – 9)(a+9) (5 x+ 10)(5 x−10)

Special Product Rules!

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There are 3 rules that help us to expand binomial functions when they are in a more difficult format. You
can just use FOIL as well – they will both work, but acknowledging these ‘special product’s will help you to
determine your answer. Here they are:

PERFECT SQUARE POSITIVES:

¿
Therefore, expand the following:
¿

(5+6 a)(5+ 6 a)=¿

PERFECT SQUARE NEGATIVES:

¿
Therefore, expand the following:
¿

(5−6 a)(5−6 a)=¿

DIFFERENCE OF 2 SQUARES

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This one is slightly different as it includes BOTH a positive and negative sign
when expanded out. There is a ‘difference’ of the 2 squares. It is ALWAYS
NEGATIVE when simplified.
a 2−b2=(a+ b)(a−b)
It’s helpful to remember what the first 12 square numbers are for this special product. Write them below:
12 = 22 = 32 = 42 =
52 = 62 = 72 = 82 =
92 = 102 = 112 = 122 =

Therefore, what would the following equal?

x 2−25=¿

(a – 9)(a+9)=¿

( x +10)( x – 10)=¿

(5 x+ 3 a ¿(5 x – 3 a)=¿
Reminder of FOIL:

(10x + 9b)(10x – 9b) =

Source: Mathematics Monster, n.d.

http://www.mathematics-monster.com/lessons/how_to
_expand_brackets.html

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 Evaluation of Learning
Circle how confident are you at Expanding
Special Product Rules? (5 the highest)

1 2 3 4 5

If you circled 3 or below, try these

(d + 4)2

(r - 2)2

(k – 6)(k+6)

If you circled 4 or 5, try these

(3x – 2)2

(4x2 + 3)2

(7p2 + 2) (7p2 - 2)

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 Factorising using Common Factors
To opposite of expanding is factorising!
Expanding: Get rid of brackets Factorising: Re-bracket!

Source: Math Is Fun, 2014, https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/factoring.html, https://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/factoring-quadratics.html

To factorise, follow these steps!

1. Find the highest common factor (HCF)
a. (Check for numbers, letters and signs that are common to all terms)
2. Place the HCF outside the brackets
3. Divide each original term by the HCF and put the answers within the brackets
Eg: 3 x 2+ 6 x  HCF is 3 x as 3 x goes into BOTH 3 x 2 and 6 x . Therefore put the HCF outside the brackets:
3x
2
6x
3 x ( ). Within the brackets, we need to divide the original terms by the HCF: =x AND =2
3x 3x
Therefore, put these terms in the brackets: 3 x ( x+ 2) . Check there are no other factors you’ve missed and
if not, you’re done!

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Factorise the following:

7. 5 x+ 20 8. y 2 – y

9. 3 a2 bc – acd 10. – 8 mn2 – 12 m2 n

REMEMBER!
If you take a negative out, change the signs within the brackets of all terms.

Eg:−5 x+10−5( x−2)

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 Factorising with Brackets

7. a(b + 3) + 2(b + 3) 8. 3m(m – 6) – (m – 6)

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 Factorising by grouping in pairs
This is exactly the same as the factorising we did yesterday but instead of 1 HCF, there is a pair of HCFs that
need to be found.

Example 3:
ab+ 5 b+3 a+15
We need to look for 2 lots of HCF in order to factorise this.
From ab+ 5 b b is the HCF
Remember negative signs belong to
From 3 a+15 3 is the HCF the term directly after the negative
Therefore: sign. KEEP IT WITH THAT TERM!!!

b (a+5)+3(a+5)
From this, we now have another HCF (a+ 5)
Therefore, to simplify: (a + 5)(b + 3)
Factorise and simplify the following examples:

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 2
3 x+ 12 – xy – 4 y a – 12 a+12 a−144

2
x + 6 x+5 x +30 df +6 g – 6 f – dg

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 Evaluation of Learning

Circle how confident are you at Factorising?

(5 is the highest)

1 2 3 4 5

If you circled 3 or below, try these

10a + 5

4s2 – s

9x2 – 3x

If you circled 4 or 5, try these

5(p-2) + r(p-2)

- 2(4x2 – 3) - 5(3 – 2x)

-12x2 – 16x +20xy + 4xz

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 Review Questions.
Expand and simplify the following 2 questions.

( x +4 )( 2 x+ 3 )−( x+5)−2(x−6)

Could you go backwards? Take out any common factors and ‘re-bracket’ this:
2
10 x +5 x

Expand the following 3 questions. Show your working.

2
a – 49

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Factorise the following 4 questions. Show your working.

8 a+ 20 ab−108 x y 2+18 x 3 y

2 2
2 x(x +3) – 4( x +3) −42ab c – 21 b cd

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