Expand algebraic expressions with brackets.
Goal:
Theory:
Part 1
When brackets are removed from around a sum or difference, then any factors outside the brackets must be multiplied by each term inside the brackets.
For example, to remove the brackets in this expression:
a(x + y)
the factor a outside the brackets must be multiplied by both the x and the y inside the brackets, like this:
a*x + a*y
To ‘expand‘ an expression means to remove the brackets.
During expansion, the factor a is distributed over the terms x and y.
Differences are expanded in the same way. For example, expanding this expression:
a(x – y)
gives this expanded expression:
a*x – a*y
If there are several factors outside the brackets and more than two terms inside the brackets, then exactly the same procedure applies.
For example, expanding:
3ab²c(2a + 3ab – 5bc² + 1)
gives:
3ab²c*2a + 3ab²c*3ab – 3ab²c*5bc² + 3ab²c*1
In this case, each term can then be simplified, giving:
6a²b²c + 9a²b³c – 15ab³c³ + 3ab²c
Method:
Part 2
IMPORTANT: This topic assumes that you know how to enter mathematical formulas into Algematics. Find out how by completing the three simple tutorials in the ‘Getting Started’ section of the Algematics program ‘Help’.
The following steps demonstrate how to expand bracketed expressions using Algematics.
Step 1 Enter the expression to be expanded
Click
and type your left-hand expression into the maths box in the data entry dialog box.
If the ‘EMPTY’ message is not displayed between the blue buttons, click the 
button until the message: ‘INSERT’ appears. If necessary, use the ‘ * ‘ symbol for multiply and the ‘ / ‘ symbol for divide.
Maths…
a(x+y)
and then click 
Step 2 Expand the brackets
Click 
For the first example, the expanded expression looks like this:
ax + ay
If necessary, click 
enough times to simplify the terms of the expanded expression.
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