Question

Simplify the expression to a polynomial in standard form:
(3x – 4)(x² – 5x - 1)​

Answer 1

`3x^3-19x^2+17x+4`

Explanation:

For this one, all we need to do is multiply. A couple things to note:

1. You can't add numbers with different powers of x (you can't add x with x^2)
2. When multiplying numbers with different powers of x together, you add those powers (x^1*x^2 = x^3)

So let's multiply:

`(3x - 4)(x^2 - 5x - 1)\\3x^3-15x^2-3x-4x^2+20x+4\\3x^3-15x^2-4x^2-3x+20x+4\\3x^3-19x^2+17x+4`

Our answer is
`3x^3-19x^2+17x+4`

Note* standard form just means we have the highest power first (x^3 before x^2)