Did I simplify this expression correctly?

Question

 

Did I simplify this expression correctly?

 

            (x - 2) (3x + 5)                                                                             3x                    5    

 

                                                                                                              x     3x^2           5x

          [x + (-2)] (3x + 5) =                                                                    -2    -6x              10

            

          3x + 3x -6x - 10    =

         

          3x^2 - 3x - 10

 

 

Thank you and havea Happy new year

Answer 1

Hey L,

 

You're close, but not quite right. So you're probably heard to use FOIL on a problem like this. 

First, you multiply x by 3x to get 3x^2.

The outside terms multiple to give you 5x, not 3x, so I think that was your only problem.

The insides give you -6x.

The last terms give you -10.

 

Combine these to get 3x^2 + 5x - 6x - 10. Adding like terms gives you 3x^2 - x - 10.

 

Hope this helps, and have a happy New Year as well!

-Nicole