Algebra
The Distributive Law

Algebra

Check For Understanding

• Check for understanding

​​ Index laws

• Multiplying indices
• Dividing indices
• Power of a power
• The zero power
• Expanding quotients
• What are negative indices
• Simplifying with negative indices
• Rational indices

Surds

• Simplifying surds
• Operating with surds

Expanding brackets

• Collecting like terms
• The distributive law
• FOIL expansion
• Special situations
• Further expansion​

Expanding is the process of removing brackets using the distributive law. The term in front of the bracket must multiply with each term within the bracket. For example:
a(b+c) = ab + ac
a(b-c) = ab - ac