Simplifying the Expression (x+4)(x-3)
In algebra, simplifying expressions is an essential skill that helps us to better understand and work with mathematical formulas. In this article, we will explore how to simplify the expression (x+4)(x-3).
What is the Distributive Property?
Before we dive into simplifying the expression, let's quickly review the distributive property. The distributive property states that when we multiply a single value to multiple addends, we can distribute the value to each addend separately. Mathematically, this is represented as:
a(b + c) = ab + ac
Simplifying the Expression (x+4)(x-3)
Now, let's apply the distributive property to simplify the expression (x+4)(x-3). We will multiply each term in the first parenthesis by each term in the second parenthesis:
(x+4)(x-3) = x(x) + x(-3) + 4(x) + 4(-3)
Expanding the Expression
Next, we will expand the expression by multiplying each term:
x(x) = x^2 x(-3) = -3x 4(x) = 4x 4(-3) = -12
Now, let's combine like terms:
x^2 - 3x + 4x - 12
Simplifying the Expression Further
We can simplify the expression further by combining like terms:
x^2 + x - 12
And that's it! We have successfully simplified the expression (x+4)(x-3) to x^2 + x - 12.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned how to simplify the expression (x+4)(x-3) using the distributive property. By following the steps outlined above, we can simplify complex expressions and gain a better understanding of algebraic concepts.