Simplifying expressions

Collecting terms Multiplying terms Dividing terms Multiply out brackets

Remember Remember BODMAS says
• Y × X = YX • You can divide powers of • 3 47=3×11=33
­3x the same number by
• P × P = P2 You can also do the sum like this
subtracting the powers, so
• –4 × 5 = –20 58 2 • 3 47=3×43×7=33
Remember that a 'term' has a 6
=5
• –7 × –9 = +63 5 So, look at the lines...
sign, a number and a letter. The
sign stays 'glued' onto the number So −12 −3 3 2 x4=3×2 x3×4=6 x12
• = The rules are
and letter so you can move them 8 2
around... ­3x × 2y = –6xy the same as for multiplying
Try to follow these examples (and
E.G. 1. So 5x3y−3x2y is the remember your directed numbers)
The steps The steps
same as 5x−3x3y2y
1. Sort out the signs
because I just moved the -3x. This 1. Sort out the signs
2. Multiply the numbers 1. 23x −5=6x −10
works out to be 2x5y
3. Multiply the letters 2. Cancel the numbers
2. −32x −1=−6x 3
E.G. 2. Sometimes you have to 3. Work out the powers of the
Some examples 3. −5 3−2x =−1510x
think about the directed numbers, letters
so 7x−4y−3x−6y is the same 4. −2y 3x4 =−6xy−8y
1. −4r×3q=−12rq A few examples
as 7x−3x−4y−6y=4x−10y
2. −6x×8y=−48xy 15xy
1. =3y Xs cancelled
A minus sign outside the bracket
E.G. 3. Powers must be treated 5x
3. x× x×x× x=x 4 simply switches all the signs in
as different symbols, so in the 12x2 y 2 4
expression 5p2 −3p−2p2 7p , 4. 3×r×r×h=3 r h 2 2. = xy the bracket.
9xy 3
you treat p2 as different to p, 5. 2x×−3y×12x=−72 x 2 y If there are two brackets, just
giving 21 p q3 3
3. = 1. Multiply out the first
2 2
5p −2p 7p−3p=3p −4p
2 Make sure you know how the 2 3
14 p q 2 p
examples work, and then try the 2. Multiply out the second
ones on the practice sheet before Your turn, try cancelling the
Try the ones on the practice sheet algebraic fractions on the practice 3. Collect the terms!
now before moving on... moving on...
sheet... Your turn...

KPB 2009