Question 23764
<pre><b><font size = 3>3x<sup>3</sup>(x - 2)(x + 2)

First just work on the 3x<sup>3</sup>(x-2) only, but don't forget to bring the (x + 2)
each time.

(3x<sup>3</sup>·x - 3x<sup>3</sup>·2)(x + 2)

(3x<sup>4</sup> - 6x<sup>3</sup>)(x + 2)

Now you can use FOIL

3x<sup>4</sup>·x + 3x<sup>4</sup>·2 - 6x<sup>3</sup>·x - 12x<sup>3</sup>

3x<sup>5</sup> + 6x<sup>4</sup> - 6x<sup>4</sup> - 12x<sup>3</sup>

The middle two terms cancel, and we get

3x<sup>5</sup> - 12x<sup>3</sup> 

Edwin
AnlytcPhil@aol.com</pre>