Michael J. answered • 05/13/15
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Effective High School STEM Tutor & CUNY Math Peer Leader
The FOIL method will be little difficult to use since we are not multiplying two binomials. So we can use on the factors as the GCF.
GCF = x2 + 3x - 4
Set up the expression, we obtain.
x(x2 + 3x - 4) - 3(x2 + 3x - 4)
Use distributive property.
x3 + 3x2 - 4x - 3x2 - 9x + 12
Combine like terms to simplify.
x3 - 9x + 12
Michael J.
You are right, I missed one of the x terms. That is why when I used division to check my work, I did not get back the original polynomial.
Good catch and it shows that you understand basic algebraic concepts. No doubt that you will be the master in algebra.
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05/13/15
Michael J.
Hold on, add the negative sign in front of the 13x.
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05/13/15
Chaya W.
05/13/15