How do you multiply (7+2a)(7-2a)?

1 Answer
Jan 18, 2017

See the entire multiplication 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)(7) + color(red)(2a))(color(blue)(7) - color(blue)(2a)) becomes:

(color(red)(7) xx color(blue)(7)) - (color(red)(7) xx color(blue)(2a)) + (color(red)(2a) xx color(blue)(7)) - (color(red)(2a) xx color(blue)(2a))

49 - 14a + 14a - 4a^2

We can now combine like terms:

49 + (-14 + 14)a - 4a^2

49 + 0 - 4a^2

49 - 4a^2

-4a^2 + 49