Expanding linear brackets

Expanding means to multiply out the brackets. Multiply each term inside the bracket by the term on the outside of the bracket.

For simple brackets:

$a (b + c) = a \times b + a \times c$

$3 (x + 4)$

Multiply each term by the 3 on the outside of the brackets.

$3 (x + 4) = 3 \times x + 3 \times 4$

$3 (x + 4) = 3 x + 12$

$2 x (3 x + 10)$

Multiply each term by the 2x on the outside of the brackets.

$2 x (3 x + 10) = 2 x \times 3 x + 2 x \times 10$

$2 x (3 x + 10) = 6 x^{2} + 20 x$

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