Expand And Simplify Worksheet

Expand and simplify at a glance

Expanding and simplifying a single bracket and double brackets involves multiplying the term or terms outside the brackets by everything inside the brackets. When expanding double brackets we need to multiple everything in the first bracket by everything in the second bracket. This will often result in a quadratic expression.

Once the brackets have been fully expanded we can then simplify the expression by collecting like terms. Collecting like terms combines algebraic terms and constant terms to simplify an expression. We use addition and subtraction of the coefficients to simplify the algebraic expression to a single term. Collecting like terms of linear expressions can result in expressions of the form ax +b, whereas collecting like terms of quadratic expressions can result in expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c.

We can expand and simplify brackets that involve different types of numbers such as surds. Surds are irrational numbers which have a square root symbol. 

This topic further extends to expanding triple brackets. To expand triple brackets, two of the brackets need expanding first, and then multiplied by the third bracket. Then simplifying is needed by collecting like terms.

Looking forward, students can then progress to additional simplifying expressions worksheets and on to more algebra worksheets, for example a simultaneous equations worksheet or a solving equations worksheet.

For more teaching and learning support on Algebra our GCSE maths lessons provide step by step support for all GCSE maths concepts step by step.

Topics covered include algebraic expressions, linear equations, quadratic equations and algebraic fractions. Suitable for use by teachers and students as preparation for GCSE before A level.