Expand Single Brackets Using the Laws of Indices

In this activity, we are going to incorporate expanding single brackets with using the laws of indices.

Let's recap both first!

Expanding brackets -  everything inside the bracket gets multiplied by whatever is outside the bracket.

Example

Laws of Indices

Multiplying, when the base is the same we add the powers.

Example

Adding the powers saves us writing the whole thing out as in the example above!

Let's put both topics together now and look at a typical question!

Example

e² (e + e³)

Expand the bracket.

Answer

e² x e = e³  Remember that if there is no power, it is to the power of 1.

e² x e³ = e⁵

Answer is e³ + e⁵

Let's try some questions!