Question

Expand and simplify x-2)^{2} " align="absmiddle" class="latex-formula">

Answer 1

You can just 1) multiply the binomial by itself, or you can use 2) the square of a binomial pattern. I'll show it to you both ways.

1) Multiply the binomial by itself.

(3x - 2)^2 = (3x - 2)(3x - 2) =

Multiply every term of the first binomial by every term of the second binomial, then collect like terms. (This is often called using FOIL.)

= 9x^2 - 6x - 6x + 4

= 9x^2 - 12x + 4

2) Use the square of a binomial pattern

The square of a binomial is

(a - b)^2 = a^2 - 2ab - b^2

a^2 is the square of the first term.
b^2 is the square of the second term.
-2ab is the product of the two terms and 2.

You have

(3x - 2)^2,
where the first term is 3x, and the second term is -2

square the first term: 9x^2
square the last term: 4
the product of the terms and 2 is: -12x

Put it all together, and you get

9x^2 - 12x + 4

just like we got above with the other method.