Question

How do you simplify `2x(x^2-3)`?

Answer 1

See the entire solution process below:

Explanation:

To simplify this expression multiply each term within the parenthesis by the term outside the parenthesis:

`color(red)(2x)(x^2 - 3) = (color(red)(2x) xx x^2) - (color(red)(2x) xx 3) = 2x^3 - 6x`

Answer 2

`2x^3-6x`

Explanation:

Apply the distributive property

`color(red)(2x)(x^2-3)=color(red)(2x)(x^2)-color(red)(2x)(3)`

`color(red)(2x)` is the same as `color(red)(2x^1)`

So `color(red)(2x)(x^2)-color(red)(2x)(3)=color(red)(2x^color(green)1)(x^2)-color(red)(2x)(3)`

To multiply `color(red)(2x^color(green)1)` and `x^2` add the exponents of the `x` terms, so,

`color(red)(2x^color(green)1)(x^2)=2x^(color(green)1+2)=2x^3`

`color(red)(2x^color(green)1)(x^2)-color(red)(2x)(3)=2x^3-6x`

This is your final answer (it cannot be simplified furthermore)