How do you multiply (x^2 + -4)(x^2 + -4)?

1 Answer
Feb 8, 2017

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

To multiply these two terms you multiply each individual term in the left parenthesis by each individual term in the right parenthesis.

(color(red)(x^2) + color(red)(-4))(color(blue)(x^2) + color(blue)(-4)) ->

(color(red)(x^2) - color(red)(4))(color(blue)(x^2) - color(blue)(4)) becomes:

(color(red)(x^2) xx color(blue)(x^2)) - (color(red)(x^2) xx color(blue)(4)) - (color(red)(4) xx color(blue)(x^2)) + (color(red)(4) xx color(blue)(4))

x^4 - 4x^2 - 4x^2 + 16

We can now combine like terms:

x^4 + (-4 - 4)x^2 + 16

x^4 + (-8)x^2 + 16

x^4 - 8x^2 + 16