How do you simplify #(x -1)(x^2+ 5x-2)#?
1 Answer
Oct 24, 2016
Explanation:
We must ensure that each term in the second bracket is multiplied by each term in the first bracket.
This can be achieved as follows.
#(color(red)(x-1))(color(blue)(x^2+5x-2))#
#=color(red)(x)(color(blue)(x^2+5x-2))color(red)(-1)(color(blue)(x^2+5x-2))# distribute the brackets.
#=x^3+5x^2-2x-x^2-5x+2# collect like terms.
#x^3+(5x^2-x^2)+(-2x-5x)+2#
#=x^3+4x^2-7x+2#
