To factorise is to express a term as the product of its factors.

A quadratic is an equation, graph, or sequence whereby the highest exponent of the variable is 2

The absolute value of a number is its distance from zero.

Factorising using the difference of two squares

Maths

In this unit, pupils learnt to solve quadratic equations by factorising and this skill will be required in the future unit through manipulating two simultaneous equations to find the solutions. For pupils studying the higher content, solving quadratic equations is required if one of the simultaneous equations is a quadratic.

In the prior unit, pupils used the distributive law to find the product of two binomials. In algebraic manipulation, pupils use apply this knowledge in order to factorise quadratics.

Algebraic manipulation

Expand and simplify the expression: $$(3x + 2)(x - 4)(4x + 1)$$

Expand and simplify the expression: $$(2x + 1)(3x - 2)(x - 4)$$

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Factorising using the difference of two squares

Lesson outcome

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.