How do you simplify #3x^2(3x^2 - x - 2)#?

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Answer 1 · 2016-12-22T23:08:54

#9x^4 - 3x^3 - 6x^2#

To simplify this expression you need to multiply the term outside the parenthesis (#color(red)(3x^2)#) by each term within the parenthesis:

#(color(red)(3x^2) * 3x^2) - (color(red)(3x^2) * x) - (color(red)(3x^2) * 2)#

#(3 * 3 * x^2 * x^2) - (3 * x^2 * x) - (3 * 2 * x^2)#

We can now use the following rule for exponents to multiply the individual terms:

#color(red)(x^a * x^b = x^(a+b))#

Hint: remember #color(green)(x = x^1)#

#9x^(2 + 2) - 3x^(2 + 1) - 6x^2#

#9x^4 - 3x^3 - 6x^2#