Question

Use the box method to distribute and simplify (-1+2x)(4+5x).. Drag and drop the terms to the correct locations of the table.

Answer 1

This is very difficult to do without a picture, so hopefully you can follow this explanation....

Draw a square box, then cut it in 1/2 vertically and horizontally so you have 4 smaller squares inside the box (Put in the given terms, outside of the box as shown below).

-5x -3

x | | |

-5 | | |

Now multiply the two outside terms that create the intersection to fill in the box. So

Upper left = -5x2 this is the first term of the polynomial

Upper right = -3x this term and the next term make up the middle term

Lower left = 25x and need to be added together = 22x

Lower right = 15 this is the last term in the polynomial

so your answer should be: -5x2 + 22x + 15

Hopefully this helps you!