
When expanding double brackets, we need to remember that in algebra when two things are next to each other it means they are multiplied (x - 5)(x + 3) is the same as (x - 5) X (x + 3). So we need to multiply everything in the second bracket by everything in the first bracket.
There are 2 different methods, so choose whichever one you prefer.
For the first method we draw arcs linking each term in the first bracket to each term in the 2nd bracket. So x multiplied by x is x squared, x multiplied by 3 is 3x, -5 multiplied by x is -5x, and -5 multiplied by 3 is -15. We end up with 4 arcs; that’s really important - it means I haven’t missed any out accidentally.
Some people like to remember this as FOIL: First…. Outer... Inner... Last...
The second method that you may prefer is to split up each bracket into a grid and then just multiply each bit together.
For both methods we then just need to simplify the middle terms by 3x - 5x = -2x, so the final answer is x^2 - 2x - 15. For triple brackets, follow the exact same process as double brackets: start by expanding the first two brackets like you would normally and then multiply that answer by the third bracket.
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