Multiplying Out Two Brackets and Simplifying

In this worksheet, you must multiply out two algebraic brackets.

Method

When we multiply out brackets we split the first bracket and multiply each term by the second bracket, as follows:

(a + b)(c) = a(c) + b(c)

(a - b)(c) = a(c) - b(c)

(Remember - when we write a(c), we could also write this as a x (c)

So that's with one value in the second bracket, but what if we had two?

1) (a + b)(c + d) = a(c + d) + b(c + d)

=  ac + ad + bc + bd

Now we have the basics we're going to apply this to some more complex maths.  Remember, the process is exactly the same, even if it looks a bit more intimidating.  

Examples

(x + 3)(x - 6) = x(x - 6) + 3(x - 6) = x² - 6x + 3x - 18
= x² - 3x - 18

(2x - 1)² = (2x - 1)(2x - 1) = 2x(2x - 1) - 1(2x - 1) = 4x² - 2x - 2x + 1
= 4x² - 4x + 1