Final answer:
The product of 2√3 and -4√2 is calculated by multiplying the coefficients (2 and -4) and the square roots (√3 and √2) separately, resulting in -8√6 as the final answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the product of 2√3 and -4√2, we follow the rules of multiplication for square roots and coefficients with different signs. According to the commutative property of multiplication, we can multiply the coefficients (numbers outside the square roots) together and the square roots together separately. Here's the step-by-step calculation:
- Multiply the coefficients: 2 * -4 = -8.
- Multiply the square roots: √3 * √2 = √(3*2) = √6.
- Combine the two results: -8 * √6 = -8√6.
Therefore, the product of 2√3 and -4√2 is -8√6, which corresponds to option a. -8√(6).