Question 55452
Multiply:
[{x+2}^3]
{{{(x+2)^3}}}
{{{(x+2)(x+2)(x+2)}}}  Multiply the first two first:
{{{(x(x)+x(2)+2(x)+2(2))(x+2)}}}
{{{(x^2+2x+2x+4)(x+2)}}} Combine like terms:
{{{(x^2+4x+4)(x+2)}}}  Distribute all the terms in the first parenthesis through all the terms in the second parenthesis:
{{{x^2(x)+x^2(2)+4x(x)+4x(2)+4(x)+4(2)}}}
{{{x^3+2x^2+4x^2+8x+4x+8}}}  Combine like terms:
{{{highlight(x^3+6x^2+12x+8)}}}
:
Another way to do it is by the formula, the advantage is that it's shorter.  The disadvantage is, having to memorize yet another formula:
{{{highlight((a+b)^3=a^3+3a^2b+3ab^2+b^3)}}}
a=x and b=2
{{{(a+b)^3=(x)^3+3(x)^2(2)+3(x)(2)^2+(2)^3}}}
={{{x^3+6x^2+12x+8}}}
Happy Calculating!!!