Polynomial Multiplication Math Example 2

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Example 2

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Expand (2xโˆ’1)(x2+3xโˆ’5)(2x - 1)(x^2 + 3x - 5).

Solution

  1. 1
    Step 1: Distribute 2x2x: 2xโ‹…x2+2xโ‹…3x+2xโ‹…(โˆ’5)=2x3+6x2โˆ’10x2x \cdot x^2 + 2x \cdot 3x + 2x \cdot (-5) = 2x^3 + 6x^2 - 10x.
  2. 2
    Step 2: Distribute โˆ’1-1: โˆ’1โ‹…x2+(โˆ’1)โ‹…3x+(โˆ’1)โ‹…(โˆ’5)=โˆ’x2โˆ’3x+5-1 \cdot x^2 + (-1) \cdot 3x + (-1) \cdot (-5) = -x^2 - 3x + 5.
  3. 3
    Step 3: Combine: 2x3+6x2โˆ’x2โˆ’10xโˆ’3x+5=2x3+5x2โˆ’13x+52x^3 + 6x^2 - x^2 - 10x - 3x + 5 = 2x^3 + 5x^2 - 13x + 5.
  4. 4
    Check: At x=1x = 1: (1)(1+3โˆ’5)=โˆ’1(1)(1+3-5) = -1 and 2+5โˆ’13+5=โˆ’12+5-13+5 = -1 โœ“

Answer

2x3+5x2โˆ’13x+52x^3 + 5x^2 - 13x + 5
When multiplying a binomial by a trinomial, distribute each term of the binomial to every term of the trinomial, then combine like terms. This generalizes FOIL beyond two binomials.

About Polynomial Multiplication

Multiplying polynomials by distributing every term in one polynomial to every term in the other, then combining like terms.

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