Question

Multiply left-parenthesis x plus 2 right-parenthesis left-parenthesis x minus 6 right-parenthesis

Answer options
A.
x squared minus 8 x minus 12
B.
x squared plus 8 x minus 12
C.
x squared minus 4 x minus 12
D.
x squared plus 4 x minus 12
E.
x squared minus 4 x plus 12

Answer 1

`x^(2)-4x-12`

Explanation:

(x+2)(x-6)

STEP 1 - USE FOIL

(FOIL is a standard way of multiplying 2 fractions, just multiply in the following order):

Forward

Outside

Inside

Last

(x+2)(x-6) becomes this when you FOIL it:

`(x^(2) )(-6x)(2x)(-12)`

STEP 2 - COMBINE ALL THE TERMS

`x^(2)` has to stay by itself because there are no other squares.
`-6x+2x=-4x` because you're adding two to -6 which effectively is 6 - 2 but you're adding a negative sign. And
`-12` stays the same because there are no x's in it.

STEP 3 - WRITE THE SOLUTION

All in all, the final solution, once you put everything together, is:

`x^(2) -4x-12`