Work through algebraic expressions: expand brackets, gather like terms, and evaluate at any value of x.
How algebra is worked out
Most algebra homework comes down to two skills — expanding and collecting. This calculator does both and shows the degree, leading coefficient and constant term of the result.
Evaluating the expression at a chosen x is a useful habit: if the original and the simplified version give the same value, the simplification is almost certainly correct.
A worked example
Worked through, a expression in x of 2(x + 3)^2 – 4x + 1, evaluate at x = of 1 produces a simplified of 2x^2 + 8x + 19. Underneath, Expanded form comes out at 2x^2 + 8x + 19 and Degree at 2. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
How to fill it in
- Enter your expression using x and brackets.
- Read the simplified polynomial.
- Enter a value of x to evaluate both forms.
The maths behind it
distributive law: a(b + c) = ab + ac
like terms combine by adding coefficients of the same power
Questions people ask about this
Can it solve equations?
Not directly. For quadratics use the quadratic or factoring calculator; for linear equations rearrange and use the proportion calculator.
What is the leading coefficient?
The coefficient of the highest power of x. It controls the end behaviour of the graph.