document.write( "Question 495911: $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2\"$ and $\"x%5E2%2B16\"$ . Can you tell me why they are not equal? I get the part when you say that they are different. But why are they? I have the answer to $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2\"$ , but where is the solution to $\"x%5E2%2B16\"$ ? I am so confused.\r
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Algebra.Com's Answer #336252 by kingme18(98) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
These aren't equal because you can't distribute an exponent. When you raise something to the second power (square it), you're multiplying it by itself; thus, $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2\"$ means $\"%28x%2B4%29%28x%2B4%29\"$ . If you use FOIL to multiply, you get $\"x%5E2+%2B+4x%2B+4x+%2B+16\"$ , or $\"x%5E2%2B8x%2B16\"$ . When you just distribute the exponent, you lose that middle \"+8x\" term, which is why $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2\"$ and $\"x%5E2%2B16\"$ are not equal.\r
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\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I'm not sure what you mean about the solution to $\"x%5E2%2B16\"$ . That is already simplified; it's just not the same as $\"%28x%2B4%29%5E2\"$ , which is $\"x%5E2%2B8x%2B16\"$ . \n" ); document.write( "

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