Question

How do you simplify `(x - 5)(x + 2)`?

Answer 1

`x^2-3x-10`

Explanation:

Open the bracket and multiply the two factors and then add the similar values or variables:
`(x-5)(x+2)`
`x^2+2x+(-5)x+(-10)`
`x^2+2x-5x-10`
`x^2-3x-10`

Answer 2

`x^2-3x-10`

Explanation:

`"each term in the second factor is multiplied by each term"`
`"in the first factor"`

`rArr(color(red)(x-5))(x+2)`

`=color(red)(x)(x+2)color(red)(-5)(x+2)larrcolor(blue)"distribute"`

`=(color(red)(x)xx x)+(color(red)(x)xx2)+(color(red)(-5)xx x)+(color(red)(-5)xx2)`

`=x^2color(magenta)(+2x)color(magenta)(-5x)color(blue)(-10)larr"collect like terms"`

`=x^2-3x-10`