Question

What is the simplest form of this expression?

(x − 4)(x2 + 3x − 5)

Answer 1

x^3 - x^2 - 17 x + 20

Explanation:

Expand the following:

(x - 4) (x^2 + 3 x - 5)

| | | | x | - | 4

| | x^2 | + | 3 x | - | 5

| | | | -5 x | + | 20

| | 3 x^2 | - | 12 x | + | 0

x^3 | - | 4 x^2 | + | 0 | + | 0

x^3 | - | x^2 | - | 17 x | + | 20:

Answer: x^3 - x^2 - 17 x + 20

Answer 2

For this case we must simplify the following expression:

`(x-4) (x ^ 2 + 3x-5) =`

We must apply distributive property term by term, taking into account that:

`+ * - = -\\- * - = +`

To multiply powers of the same base, we place the same base and add the exponents.

So:

`x ^ 3 + 3x ^ 2-5x-4x ^ 2-12x + 20 =`

We add similar terms:

`x ^ 3-x ^ 2-17x + 20`

Answer:

`x ^ 3-x ^ 2-17x + 20`