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Year 8 · Practice

Expanding & Factorising — Year 8 Practice Questions

Work through these Year 8 practice questions on expanding and factorising. Try each one before revealing the worked solution.

Questions

1
[1 marks] Easy Expanding

Expand 5(x + 2).

2
[2 marks] Easy Expanding

Expand 3(2x − 4).

3
[2 marks] Medium Negative bracket

Expand −2(x + 5).

4
[2 marks] Medium Expand and collect

Expand and simplify 4(x + 3) + 2x.

5
[2 marks] Medium Factorising

Factorise 6x + 8.

6
[2 marks] Medium Factorising

Factorise 10x − 15.

7
[2 marks] Medium Full factorising

Factorise fully 12x + 18.

8
[2 marks] Hard Common letter factor

Factorise x² + 5x.

Answers & Worked Solutions

Question 1 Solution

Step 1: Multiply both terms by 5.

Step 2: 5 × x = 5x and 5 × 2 = 10, giving 5x + 10.

Answer: 5x + 10

Question 2 Solution

Step 1: 3 × 2x = 6x and 3 × (−4) = −12.

Step 2: So 3(2x − 4) = 6x − 12.

Answer: 6x − 12

Question 3 Solution

Step 1: −2 × x = −2x and −2 × 5 = −10.

Step 2: So −2(x + 5) = −2x − 10.

Answer: −2x − 10

Question 4 Solution

Step 1: Expand: 4x + 12 + 2x.

Step 2: Collect like terms: 6x + 12.

Answer: 6x + 12

Question 5 Solution

Step 1: The highest common factor of 6 and 8 is 2.

Step 2: 6x + 8 = 2(3x + 4).

Answer: 2(3x + 4)

Question 6 Solution

Step 1: The highest common factor of 10 and 15 is 5.

Step 2: 10x − 15 = 5(2x − 3).

Answer: 5(2x − 3)

Question 7 Solution

Step 1: The highest common factor of 12 and 18 is 6.

Step 2: 12x + 18 = 6(2x + 3).

Answer: 6(2x + 3)

Question 8 Solution

Step 1: Both terms share a factor of x.

Step 2: x² + 5x = x(x + 5).

Answer: x(x + 5)

Build strong foundations in Expanding & Factorising

A free trial class with Teacher Rig helps your Year 8 child master Expanding & Factorising now — so IGCSE Maths feels familiar, not frightening, later.

Next step: IGCSE

Heading toward IGCSE? See how Expanding & Factorising develops in IGCSE Algebra and Graphs (Cambridge 0580)