How are expanded and factorise related in maths?

Answer 1

In mathematics, expanding and factorising are two interconnected processes involving algebraic expressions. Expanding refers to multiplying out terms in an expression, transforming it into a sum of terms (e.g., expanding ( (x + 2)(x + 3) ) results in ( x^2 + 5x + 6 )). Conversely, factorising involves breaking down an expression into its multiplicative components (e.g., factorising ( x^2 + 5x + 6 ) gives ( (x + 2)(x + 3) )). These processes are essentially inverse operations, enabling the manipulation and simplification of algebraic expressions.