Question

How do you multiply `(k - 1)(k - 4)`?

Answer 1

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)(k) - color(red)(1))(color(blue)(k) - color(blue)(4))` becomes:

`(color(red)(k) xx color(blue)(k)) - (color(red)(k) xx color(blue)(4)) - (color(red)(1) xx color(blue)(k)) + (color(red)(1) xx color(blue)(4))`

`k^2 - 4k - k + 4`

We can now combine like terms:

`k^2 - 4k - 1k + 4`

`k^2 + (-4 - 1)k + 4`

`k^2 - 5k + 4`