Question

How do you multiply `(x+5)^2`?

Answer 1

`x^2 +10x +25`

Explanation:

`(x+5)^2` means `(x+5)(x+5)`
This is NOT equal to `x^2 +25`!!

Each term in the first bracket must be multiplied by each term in the second bracket, so give 4 terms as a start.

`(x+5)(x+5) = x^2 +5x+5x+25`

=`x^2 +10x +25`

This is called the square of a binomial and is always in the form:

`(ax+b)^2 = a^2x^2 +2abx + b^2`