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Last updated on August 5, 2025
In mathematics, the expansion of an algebraic expression such as (a + b + c)² is essential for understanding polynomial expressions and simplification techniques. In this topic, we will learn the formula for expanding (a + b + c)².
The algebraic expression (a + b + c)² is expanded using the distributive property. Let’s learn the formula to expand (a + b + c)².
The formula to expand (a + b + c)² is:
(a + b + c)² = a² + b² + c² + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca.
Understanding (a + b + c)² is important in algebra for simplifying expressions and solving equations.
It helps in polynomial expansions and finding solutions to quadratic equations involving three terms.
Students find algebraic formulas challenging.
Here are some tips to master the (a + b + c)² formula:
The (a + b + c)² formula is used in various real-life applications, including:
Students often make errors when expanding (a + b + c)². Here are some mistakes and how to avoid them.
Expand (x + y + z)².
The expansion is x² + y² + z² + 2xy + 2yz + 2zx.
Using the formula (a + b + c)² = a² + b² + c² + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca, substitute a = x, b = y, c = z to get x² + y² + z² + 2xy + 2yz + 2zx.
What is the expansion of (2m + 3n + 4p)²?
The expansion is 4m² + 9n² + 16p² + 12mn + 24np + 16mp.
Substitute a = 2m, b = 3n, c = 4p into the formula (a + b + c)² to get 4m² + 9n² + 16p² + 12mn + 24np + 16mp.
Find the expansion of (a + 2b + 3c)².
The expansion is a² + 4b² + 9c² + 4ab + 12bc + 6ac.
Using the formula (a + b + c)² = a² + b² + c² + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca, substitute a = a, b = 2b, c = 3c to get a² + 4b² + 9c² + 4ab + 12bc + 6ac.
Jaskaran Singh Saluja is a math wizard with nearly three years of experience as a math teacher. His expertise is in algebra, so he can make algebra classes interesting by turning tricky equations into simple puzzles.
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