Foundation & Higher

Expanding brackets GCSE questions

Exam-style expanding brackets questions for GCSE Maths. Try them, then check the working. Full method: the expanding brackets lesson.

Before you start

Multiply every term inside the bracket by the term outside. For two brackets, use FOIL and collect like terms.

Practice questions

Cover the answers and have a go first. Worked solutions are underneath.

Question 1 [1 mark]

Expand 7(x + 2)

Question 2 [1 mark]

Expand 4(3x − 5)

Question 3 [1 mark]

Expand −3(2x + 1)

Question 4 [2 marks]

Expand and simplify 2(x + 3) + 5(x − 1)

Question 5 [2 marks]

Expand (x + 4)(x + 1)

Question 6 [2 marks]

Expand (x + 6)(x − 6)

Question 7 [2 marks]

Expand (2x + 3)(x + 5)

Question 8 [2 marks]

Expand (x + 2)²

Common mistakes

Answers and working

Q1. 7x + 14
Q2. 12x − 20
Q3. −6x − 3
Q4. 7x + 1
Q5. x² + 5x + 4
Q6. x² − 36
Q7. 2x² + 13x + 15
Q8. x² + 4x + 4

Frequently asked questions

Where is the full lesson?

See Expanding brackets: https://revise-easy.com/gcse-maths/algebra/expanding-brackets/

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