SOLUTION: need help for solving this expression please. In the book it talking about using the distributive law twice and im not really getting it at all. Here's the problem. (x-3)(x+2) An

Algebra ->  Expressions-with-variables -> SOLUTION: need help for solving this expression please. In the book it talking about using the distributive law twice and im not really getting it at all. Here's the problem. (x-3)(x+2) An      Log On


   

Question 149446: need help for solving this expression please. In the book it talking about using the distributive law twice and im not really getting it at all. Here's the problem.
(x-3)(x+2)
Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Answer by Fombitz(32388) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29
Let a=(x-3).
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=a%2A%28x%2B2%29
Using the distributive property on the right hand side, this becomes,
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=ax%2B2a%29
Now substitute for a,
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=ax%2B2a%29
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=%28x-3%29x%2B2%28x-3%29%29
Use the distributive property again on the right hand side,
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=%28x-3%29x%2B2%28x-3%29%29
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=%28x%5E2-3x%29%2B%282x-6%29%29
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=x%5E2-x-6%29
This is the FOIL Method, in disguise.
FOIL stands for First, Outer, Inner, Last.
First %28highlight%28x%29-3%29%28highlight%28x%29%2B2%29%29=x%2Ax=x%5E2
Outer %28highlight%28x%29-3%29%28x%2Bhighlight%282%29%29%29=x%2A2=2x
First %28x%2Bhighlight%28-3%29%29%28highlight%28x%29%2B2%29%29=-3%2Ax=-3x
Last %28x%2Bhighlight%28-3%29%29%28x%2Bhighlight%282%29%29%29=%28-3%29%2A2=-6
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=x%5E2%2B2x-3x-6%29
%28x-3%29%28x%2B2%29=x%5E2-x-6%29