Question

Multiply: (x - 2)(x + 2)

`(x - 2)(x + 2)`

Answer 1

This is a simple difference of squares, and you can just use FOIL, or just memorize the formula for these, specific, difference of square problems. Here's the formula:

`(a+b)(a-b) = a^2-b^2`

So, if we apply that formula to this, we have:

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

If you want, you can check by using FOIL, which is what most people use.

Answer 2

Answer:
The product of those polynomials would be x² - 4.

Step-by-step explanation:
In order to multiply binomials together, we use the FOIL method, an acronym that instructs which terms in each binomial to multiply together. It stands for Firsts, Outsides, Insides, and Lasts.

Firsts, we multiply the first term in each binomial: x(x)
Outsides, we multiply the outermost term in each binomial: x(2)
Insides, we multiply the innermost term in each binomial: x(-2)

Lasts, we multiply the last term in each binomial: 2(-2)

Now we simplify each, and place them into an equation:
x(x) = x²
x(2) = 2x
x(-2) = -2x
2(-2) = -4

Your full equation then becomes: x² + 2x - 2x - 4

Now we combine like terms because there are two terms containing the variable x that can be consolidated.

2x - 2x = 0 therefore, our equation is now x² + 0 - 4

0 and - 4 are also like terms as constants that can be consolidated.
0 - 4 = -4 therefore, our equation is now x² - 4, your answer.