2 Algebra WorkSheet

2-2
Algebra

Expanding and factorising algebraic

expressions
➜ focus
To expand and factorise different algebraic expressions

now try these

1 Consider the algebraic expression 3(x + 5) + 2(x − 4).
a Show that, after expansion, the expression is equivalent to 3x + 15 + 2x − 8.
b Simplify the expanded expression 3x + 15 + 2x − 8.
c Now consider the algebraic expression (x + 5)(x − 4). How is this type of expression
different from those in parts a and b?
d When expanding the expression from part c, an expression obtained in the process is
x(x − 4) + 5(x − 4). Show that, when (x + 5)(x − 4) is completely expanded and simplified,
the result is x2 + x − 20.
2 Expand each of the following algebraic expressions to remove the brackets.
a 5(a + 5) b 3(2x − 4) c −6(b − 3)
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d −3x(2x + 5) e x(3 − 2x) f 4m(3n − 5p)

3 Expand and simplify each of the following algebraic expressions.
a 5(x + 2) − 12 b 3(x − 4y) + 6 + 12x c 4(x + 5) + 2(x + 4)
d 3(h − 4) + 5(2h − 3) e y(4y + 7) − 6(y − 5) f x(x + 3) − x(4x − 2)
4 Expand each of the following algebraic expressions to remove the brackets.
a (a + 5)(b + 7) b (c + 6)(d − 4) c (a − 4)(c + 1)
d (d − 7)(e − 3) e (b + 1)(d − 6) f (x − 2)(y − 5)
5 Expand each of the following algebraic expressions to remove the brackets.
9 a (a + 4)(a − 4) b (c − 6)(c + 6) c (x + 4)(x + 4) d (b − 5)2
 6 Factorise each of the following expressions by writing the highest common factor of both
terms before the brackets and writing the other factors inside the brackets.
a 16 + 32x b 15 + 6y c 35x − 28y
d 4x + x2 e xyz − 3x2y f 12xy + 16x2
g 24x2y2 − 15xy2 h 6xy2 + 12x3y2 i x(x + 5) − 3(x + 5)
j 3y(y − 2) + 5(y − 2)
7 Factorise each of the following quadratic trinomials.
a x2 + 5x + 6 b x2 + 10x + 21 c x2 + 10x + 24
d x2 + 11x + 18 e x2 + 13x + 42 f x2 + 15x + 36
8 Factorise each of the following quadratic trinomials.
a x2 − 6x + 8 b x2 − 7x + 10 c x2 − 9x + 18
d x2 − 14x + 24 e x2 − 14x + 48 f x2 − 16x + 63
9 Factorise each of the following quadratic trinomials.
a x2 − 4x − 5 b x2 + 4x − 12 c x2 + 2x − 24
d x2 − 5x − 36 e x2 + x − 56 f x2 + 4x − 96
10 Use the difference of two squares rule to factorise each of the following expressions. (Note:
in some cases you may be required to find the highest common factor of the terms first.)
a x2 − 16 b 36 − a2 c (6m)2 − 25
d 27x2 − 75 e 8y2 − 98 f (x − 3)2 − 9
g (y + 5)2 − 1 h (x + 2)2 − (x + 3)2

thinking about your thinking

How are expanding and factorising related to each other?
© Oxford University Press 2015

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