Algebraic Manipulation

What is Algebraic Manipulation?

The rewriting of an algebraic expression into a different but equivalent form, so that the same quantity is expressed in a shape better suited to the question. Expanding removes brackets by multiplying out; factorising restores brackets by extracting common structure; completing the square rewrites a quadratic as a squared bracket plus a constant. Every such rewrite must hold for every value of the letter, and in Cambridge usage factorise always means factorise fully.

This definition is part of the Algebra and Graphs chapter in Cambridge O Level Mathematics (Syllabus D).

Concepts related to Algebraic Manipulation

• like terms
• expanding
• common factor
• difference of two squares
• completing the square
• turning point