SOLUTION: How do you simplify (x-7)^2

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Question 125915: How do you simplify (x-7)^2
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

%28x-7%29%5E2 Start with the given expression


%28x-7%29%28x-7%29 Expand. Remember something like x%5E2=x%2Ax


Now let's FOIL the expression



Remember, when you FOIL an expression, you follow this procedure:


%28highlight%28x%29-7%29%28highlight%28x%29-7%29 Multiply the First terms:%28x%29%2A%28x%29=x%5E2


%28highlight%28x%29-7%29%28x%2Bhighlight%28-7%29%29 Multiply the Outer terms:%28x%29%2A%28-7%29=-7x


%28x%2Bhighlight%28-7%29%29%28highlight%28x%29-7%29 Multiply the Inner terms:%28-7%29%2A%28x%29=-7x


%28x%2Bhighlight%28-7%29%29%28x%2Bhighlight%28-7%29%29 Multiply the Last terms:%28-7%29%2A%28-7%29=49


x%5E2-7x-7x%2B49 Now collect every term to make a single expression



x%5E2-14x%2B49 Now combine like terms


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Answer:
So %28x-7%29%5E2 foils and simplifies to x%5E2-14x%2B49

In other words, %28x-7%29%5E2=x%5E2-14x%2B49