Question

How do you write `3x^2(2x^3 – 4x^2)` in standard form?

Answer 1

`6x^5-12x^4`

Explanation:

The formula for expanding `a(b+c)` is `ab+ac`. In this exanple `a=3x^2; b=2x^3;` and `c=-4x^2`.

That leaves us with `3x^2(2x^3)+3x^2(-4x^2)`.

To multiply `ax^b` by `cx^d`, we do `(a*c)x^(b+d)`. Putting our values in, we get `(3*2)x^(2+3)= 6x^5`. Now by doing `3x^2(-4^2)`, we get `(3*-4)x^(2+2)=(-12)x^4=-12x^4`.

By adding both values together we get `6x^5-12x^4`.