Question

Simplify the following expression. x(x - 3) - 4(x2 + 7)

Answer 1

Explanation:

We start of with this.

First, use the distributive property, and distribute the x to the (x-3) to get:

Next, distribute the -4 to the (2x+7) to then get:

Then, combine like terms. In this case, combine -3x and -8x since they are alike and get:

The answer is already in standard form, so we're done. To write a polynomial in standard form, write the monomial with the variable, with the largest exponent first. In this case,
goes before
because of the exponent of 2. Monomials without a variable go last, so that's why -28 is last.

Answer 2

-3x^2 (2 squared) - 3x -28