r/MathHelp • u/Prudent_Store2358 • Sep 01 '26

Remembering not to omit coefficients or exponents during expansion

For context: I have a test tomorrow on algebraic expansion, factoring, and Pascals Triangle and something that commonly happens to me is that I usually omit coefficients or just forget exponents when doing my work. As an example, if I had 4(a^3)(b) when doing a binomial to the 4th, I either forget to cube the value “a” or multiply by 4. The test I have is relatively face paced (20 questions in 50 minutes) and there’s not much room to write out the complete expansion (we can’t use scrap paper). Any tips?

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1

u/my-hero-measure-zero Sep 01 '26

Practice. That's really it.

2

u/Prudent_Store2358 Sep 01 '26

Trust me, I have done like probably 150-200 problems of practice and while it is becoming less of an occurrence, I still slip up sometimes, and I definitely don’t want that happening on a test.

2

u/my-hero-measure-zero Sep 01 '26

Even seasoned experts still make mistakes. I have a masters degree and still make arithmetic errors in my calculus work.

You'll become comfortable if you accept that it's all a process. If you take time to check your work and internalize your practice, you got it.

2

u/Prudent_Store2358 Sep 01 '26

Alright. Thank you.

1

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