2.
4 Expanding the product of two linear expressions
Worked example 2.4
Expand and simplify these expressions.
a (x + 2)(x + 3) b (y + 8)(y − 4)
Answer
a (x + 2)(x + 3) First, multiply the x in the first brackets by the x in the second
brackets to give x2.
Then, multiply the x in the first brackets by the 3 in the second
brackets to give 3x.
Then, multiply the 2 in the first brackets by the x in the second
brackets to give 2x.
Finally, multiply the 2 in the first brackets by the 3 in the second
brackets to give 6.
= x2 + 3x + 2x + 6 Write each term as you work it out.
= x2 + 5x + 6
Collect like terms, 3x + 2x = 5x, to simplify your answer.
b (y + 8)( y − 4) First, multiply the y in the first brackets by the y in the second
brackets to give y2.
Then, multiply the y in the first brackets by the −4 in the second
brackets to give −4y.
Then, multiply the 8 in the first brackets by the y in the second
brackets to give 8y.
Finally, multiply the 8 in the first brackets by the −4 in the second
brackets to give −32.
= y2 − 4y + 8y – 32 Write each term as you work it out.
= y2 + 4y – 32 Collect like terms, −4y + 8y = 4y, to simplify your answer.
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2 Expressions and formulae
Exercise 2.4
1 Copy and complete these multiplications.
a (x + 4)(x + 1) = x2 + 1x + x+ b (x − 3)(x + 6) = x2 + 6x − x−
= x2 + x+ = x2 + x−
c (x + 2)(x − 8) = x2 − x+ x− d (x − 4)(x − 1) = x2 − x− x+
= x2 − x− = x2 − x+
2 Expand and simplify.
a (x + 3)(x + 7) b (x + 1)(x + 10)
c (x + 5)(x − 3) d (x − 4)(x + 8)
e (x − 7)(x − 2) f (x − 12)(x − 2)
Think like a mathematician
3 Sofia and Zara discuss the different methods they use to expand two brackets.
Read what they say.
This is the method I use:
I use the same (x + 4)(x + 1) = x(x + 1) + 4(x + 1)
method as in
Question 1. = x2 + x + 4x + 1
= x2 + 5x + 1
a Critique Zara’s method. Do you prefer Zara’s method or Sofia’s method? Why?
b Can you think of another method you can use to expand two brackets?
c Discuss your answers to parts a and b with other learners in your class.
4 Expand and simplify these expressions. Use your favourite method.
a (y + 2)(y + 4) b (z + 6)(z + 8)
c (m + 4)(m − 3) d (a − 9)(a + 2)
e (p − 6)(p − 5) f (n − 10)(n − 20)
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2.4 Expanding the product of two linear expressions
Think like a mathematician
5 Work with a partner to answer this question.
a Look at this expansion. (x + 5)(x + 4) = x2 + 5x + 4x + 20 = x2 + 9x + 20
How would the expansion change if the + changed to − ?
b Here is the expansion again. (x + 5)(x + 4) = x2 + 5x + 4x + 20 = x2 + 9x + 20
How would the expansion change if the + changed to − ?
c Here is the expansion again. (x + 5)(x + 4) = x2 + 5x + 4x + 20 = x2 + 9x + 20
How would the expansion change if both of the + signs changed to − signs?
d Write down the missing signs (+ or −) in these expansions.
In each expression, the number represented by ∆ is greater than the number
represented by ♦.
i (x + ∆)(x + ♦) = x2 ‘a number’ x ‘a number’
ii (x + ∆)(x − ♦) = x2 ‘a number’ x ‘a number’
iii (x − ∆)(x + ♦) = x2 ‘a number’ x ‘a number’
iv (x − ∆)(x − ♦) = x2 ‘a number’ x ‘a number’
Discuss your answers to these questions with other learners in your class.
6 Which is the correct expansion of the expression, A, B or C?
Use what you have learned from Question 5 to help you.
a (w + 9)(w + 3) = A w2 + 12w − 27 B w2 − 12w + 27 C w2 + 12w + 27
b (x + 7)(x − 5) = A x2 + 2x − 35 B x2 − 2x + 35 C x2 − 2x − 35
c (y − 8)(y + 6) = A y2 − 2y + 48 B y2 − 2y − 48 C y2 + 2y − 48
d (z − 4)(z − 5) = A z2 − 9z + 20 B z2 − 9z − 20 C z2 + 9z + 20
7 Copy and complete each expansion.
a (x + 2)2 = (x + 2)(x + 2) b (x − 3)2 = (x − 3)(x − 3)
= x2 + 2x + x+ = x2 − 3x − x+
= x2 + x+ = x2 − x+
8 a Expand and simplify each expression.
Tip
i (y + 5)2 ii (z + 1)2 iii (m + 8)2
iv (a − 2) 2
v (p − 4)2
vi (n − 9)2 Use the same method as
in Question 7.
b Look carefully at your answers to part a.
Use these answers to complete the general
expansion: (x + a)2 = x2 + x+
Tip
This type of expansion is
called a perfect square.
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