VC2M10A04 Official strand: Algebra

Strategies for expansion and factorisation

Practise online with Next and Previous buttons, worked explanations and a report of the questions to review.

Use distributive, area and pattern methods to expand products and factorise monic quadratics.

One-question preview

Choose one answer

Try this sample, or continue to the online quiz for a practice set with Next and Previous buttons.

Expand (2x + 1)(x + (-2)).

A2x² - 3x - 1 B2x² - 3x - 2 C2x² - 2x - 2 D3x² - 3x - 2

This preview contains one question. Continue to a practice set for more questions.

Show worked steps

Answer: 2x² - 3x - 2

Use the distributive law to form all four products.
Collect the x² term, the x terms and the constant.
The expansion is 2x² - 3x - 2.

This is a question from this topic’s quiz. Preview answers are not saved.

Scratchpad

Working out

Your thinking space

Draw with a finger, pen or mouse, or type your working below.

Typed working

Your working stays on this page. It is not submitted or saved, and clears when you leave or reload.

Curriculum reference

Victorian Curriculum F–10 Version 2.0

Pi Leo practice scope

Use distributive, area and pattern methods to expand products and factorise monic quadratics.

Read the official VCAA curriculum description (VC2M10A04)

These quizzes practise concepts within this topic. Multiple-choice answers alone do not demonstrate drawing, conducting an investigation or using a digital tool.

VC2M10A04-C01Expand binomials including a non-unit coefficient.
VC2M10A04-C02Use sum-and-product reasoning and recognise special cases.
VC2M10A04-C03Apply and explain strategies for expansion and factorisation using calculate and explain each step.
VC2M10A04-C04Apply and explain strategies for expansion and factorisation using work backwards from what is known.

Learn with worked examples

Help with this topic

Open complete study note

Skills in this topic

Traceable coverage

Subskills

These practice subskills map to the curriculum topic. Guided activities cover skills beyond multiple-choice questions.

Descriptor-derived subskills

D01
Organise four productsExpand binomials including a non-unit coefficient.
D02
Find and verify factorsUse sum-and-product reasoning and recognise special cases.
D03
Calculate and explain each stepApply and explain strategies for expansion and factorisation using calculate and explain each step.
D04
Work backwards from what is knownApply and explain strategies for expansion and factorisation using work backwards from what is known.