Understand how to manipulate algebraic expressions.

The language of algebra is often described as 'beautiful'. Its

to
simplify situations and provide clarity is one of its many beautiful
features. Yet to fully appreciate it you have learn the
The more fluent you become in its rules and structures, the more its
beauty reveals
This unit will start to look at some of the ways in which
expressions can be manipulated. These manipulations are central to
becoming fluent in the language of

Expanding brackets
Consider the rectangle below with dimensions as shown.
To calculate the area involves 4a +5
the length by the width, i.e. 3(4a +5).
To see what the multiplication is 3

to, the rectangle can be split into two parts

with the area of each part as shown:
4a 5
The area of the rectangle is therefore
12a + 15.
3x4a=12a 3×5=15
But as the area is also 3(4a +5).
Then 3(4a + 5) = 12a + 15.
LET'S TALK
This is an example
If the '3' outside the brackets multiplies both terms inside the
of deductive brackets, then we get 12a + 15.
What logic.
do you

think
In other words: 3x 4a + 3x5 = 12a
deductive
logic means in This is an example of the distributive law of multiplication, where
theof
context of the terms inside it.
this the number outside the bracket multiplies each
problem
complex expressions.
The same method can be applied to more

141
SECTION 2

nol22919xe
Worked
an expression for the area of the following The expression
Write written in the
rectangle. form 2a(5a+ b)

g
is known as giving
5a+ b
the answer in

2a factorised form.

is the multiplication of the length by the width: 2a (5a + b).

The area be given in expanded form by

The expression can
Multiplying
multiplying out the 2ax5a can be
considered as
2a (5a + b) = 10a" + 2ab
2X5X aXa
for the volume of the following
b Write an expression
cuboid. 2a cm The volume of a
The volume is the result of cuboid is: length
multiplying (6a - 1) × 2a 3a width x height
As multiplication is 6a - 1 cm
it can be done in any order:
(6a -1)× 2a x3a = (6a -1) ×
Therefore, expanding the bracket gives:
6a' (6a - 1) = 36a° - 6a'
the volume of the cuboid is 36a3 - 6a?
An expression for

Exercise 15.1

Expand the following expressions.

5a (2a +1) d 3c3 (2d - 3e)
4x (x+ y)
e ¿m' (4m+6
2p (3p' - q)
Expand the following expressions and simplify your answer as
as possible.
3(e+5)+2e-3
-2g (h+4)-3 (h -2)
2(f-2)+3(f-1)
4f(2f-3)+5f(3f-2) P 5h(2i+3)-7 (i-1)
-3¡(4+3;)-2(j-7)
 Write an expression, using brackets, for the area of the triangle.
LET'S TALK
How many
possible
combinations of
3a base length and
perpendicular
height could there
be for a a triangle
6a+4
The area of a different triangle is given as A = 6a? + with this area?
Write a possible base length and a perpendicular
height for the triangle.
¡i) Write another possible base length and perpendicular height for the triangle.
sequence of three squares is shown
The first square has a side length of x cm. Each
square in the sequence has a side length double that
the previous one.
If the sequence is continued, how many squares
are there if the total area is given by the expression x cm
341x cm2? x cm 2x cm
The rule for the sequence is changed. The first
shape is still a a square with a side length of xcm.
subsequent shapes, the length is doubled as (x+2) cm
but the height increases by 1 cm as (x+1) cm
x cm
Write an expression for the total area for the 4th
x cm 2x cm 4x cm
pattern. Simplify your answer.
Two rectangles are shown below. The larger has dimensions 5x + 1 cm and 10 cm, while the
smaller has dimensions 2x - 1 cm and 10 cm as shown:
10 cm

10 cm
5x + 1 cm 2x-1cm

6 cm of the smaller rectangle is placed 10 cm

the larger rectangle so that only part of the 6 cm

larger rectangle is visible. 2x- 1cm
5x + 1 cm
Write an expression for the area of the
larger rectangle still visible.
The position of the smaller rectangle is
moved. Write an expression for the smallest possible area of the larger rectangle that can
be seen. Justify your answer.
 SECTION 2

Expansion and factorisation

Changing 2(x + 3) to 2x + 6 is called expansion.
2 is the highest The opposite of expansion, changing 2x + 6 to 2(x + 3), is
common factor of
both Ox and 850 factorisation.
is written outside To factorise an expression, we first need to find the highest
the bracket. Both factor (HCF) of all the terms. We write this factor outside
the Ox and 8 are
brackets. We then divide each term by this factor to find what
then divided by
two to give 3x inside the brackets.
and 4. These are
written in the
brackets.
Worked

000 a Factorise 6x +8.

6x+8=2(3x+4)
The HCF of 6x and 8 is 2. So, this goes outside the brackets.

b Factorise 9a + 6b + 12.
9a + 6b + 12 = 3(3a + 2b+4)

The HCF of 9a, 6b and 12 is 3. So, this goes outside the

Exercise 15.2

Factorise the following.

4a + 10 b 10a + 15 9a + 21

66 + 3 b 106 + C 256 + 10

15c - 25
b 8a - 24

8-4d
b 6-4d 18 - 12d
6a + 7 c + 14d
12a - 166
A student attempts to factorise the
following
In each case explain if she is right or wrong. If she is wrong, write
down the correct answer.
5 - 10b = 5(-2b)
24b - 12a = 6(4b - 2a)
27a+27b=27(a+b)

144
 15 Manipulating algebraic

Sometimes, the highest common factor is a letter rather than a

number.

his the facto

of all terms Worked
50
written
outside the a Factorise 2ab + 3bc + 4bd.
brackets.
2ab + 3bc + 4bd = b(2a + 3c + 4d)
The three
are then divided
O The HCF is b, so this goes outside the brackets.

bto produce b Factorise ax + bx + x2.

22+3c+4d ax+bx+ x2 = x(a+b+x)
inside the
The HCF is x, so this goes outside the brackets.
brackets.

Exercise 15.3
torise the following.

2ax + 3bx + 4cx 7ab - 8bc

3pq-4q + 2mn - 3nr + 5mp

4ax + 3 x- b 4ab - 3b*

6p? -5pq
7mn
x2 - ax
pqr - pf

Sometimes, the highest common factor is a combination of numbers

and letters.

Worked example
a Factorise 8x2 - 4ax + 6bx.
8x2 - 4ax + 6bx = 2x (4x - 2a + 36)

The HCF is 2x, so this goes outside the brackets.

b Factorise 30abc - 24abd - 12a b.
30abc - 24abd - 12a? 2b - 6ab (5c - 4d - 2a)

The HCF is 6ab, so this goes outside the brackets.

145
Exercise 15.4
Factorise the following expressions fully.

4xy -6yz 9pq

15mn - 14bc - 21c2

6pq - 30p- 15x7 - 10 xy

12x?y - 8xy? 10ab? - 25a?b

7 ax - 14ay + 21az 30ax? - 6bx2 + 9 cx2

Exercise 15.5

Which of the following expressions are not fully factorised?

6a (5a + b)
iin) x(7x+14) iv) 2mn (6m - 4n?)
8cd (6c + 9cd)
iii 2pq(pq + 2g?) vi) 7m n? (12m - 3m m)
For each of the
ones you identified in part (a) write them in fully
factorised form.
The area of this triangle is is given by the expression 6x + 10.

1
1 cm

Write an expression for the base length L, giving your answer in

terms of x.
Explain why the circumference of the circle with a diameter of
14x - 10 as shown can
be given by the expression 27t (7x -5).

14x-10
 Show that the area of the cross is given by the expression 12(6x +

3x -1

The shape below has dimensions as shown:

4x - 1

4x - 2

4
A student states that the total area of the shape is given by
expression
4(4x-2)+2(4x-1).
Explain why this is incorrect.
Write the correct expression for the area of the shape in
factorised form.

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