Learning Map
MathematicsAlgebrausually ages 11–13

Expanding Single Brackets

Expand (multiply out) a single term over a bracket using the distributive property, e.g., 3(2x + 5) = 6x + 15; expand expressions involving negative multipliers

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

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Try this together

Can your child expand a bracket like 3(2x + 5) by multiplying everything inside, to get 6x + 15?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Collecting Like Termsages 11–12Expanding brackets produces terms that then need collecting
Expanding Single Bracketsthis skill · ages 11–13
Unlocks
Factorising Expressionsages 12–13Factorising is the reverse of expanding — students need expanding fluency first
Expanding Double Bracketsages 13–14Expanding double brackets extends single-bracket expansion using FOIL/grid method
Solving Linear Equationsages 11–14Many equations require expanding brackets before solving

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

Show candidate curriculum codes · 1 ACARA

Australian Curriculum v9 candidate

AC9M6A02low confidenceYear 6 · Algebra

find unknown values in numerical equations involving brackets and combinations of arithmetic operations, using the properties of numbers and operations

These are candidate alignments generated by semantic matching — machine-suggested and unreviewed (v0.1), not official or verified mappings. For official curriculum content see australiancurriculum.edu.au, curriculum.nsw.edu.au and f10.vcaa.vic.edu.au. Don’t rely on them for registration or compliance purposes.

Nearby on the map

Algebraic Notationages 11–12 Algebraic Transformationsages 11–13 Collecting Like Termsages 11–12 Coordinates (age 11+)ages 11–12

All Algebra skills →