Question

What is the product?
(x - 3)(2x2 – 5x + 1)

Answer 1

`\large\boxed{(x-3)(2x^2-5x+1)=2x^3-11x^2+16x-3}`

Explanation:

Use the distributive property: a(b + c) = ab + ac:

`(x-3)(2x^2-5x+1)=(x-3)(2x^2)+(x-3)(-5x)+(x-3)(1)\\\\=(x)(2x^2)+(-3)(2x^2)+(x)(-5x)+(-3)(-5x)+x-3\\\\=2x^3-6x^2-5x^2+15x+x-3\qquad\text{combine like terms}\\\\=2x^3+(-6x^2-5x^2)+(15x+x)-3\\\\=2x^3-11x^2+16x-3`