Question

How do you multiply `(2/3x+12)(1/2x-1.2)`?

Answer 1

See a 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)(2/3x) + color(red)(12))(color(blue)(1/2x) - color(blue)(1.2))` becomes:

`(color(red)(2/3x) xx color(blue)(1/2x)) - (color(red)(2/3x) xx color(blue)(1.2)) + (color(red)(12) xx color(blue)(1/2x)) - (color(red)(12) xx color(blue)(1.2))`

`2/6x^2 - 2.4/3x + 6x - 14.4`

`1/3x^2 - 0.8x + 6x - 14.4`

We can now combine like terms:

`1/3x^2 + (-0.8 + 6)x - 14.4`

`1/3x^2 + 5.2x - 14.4`