Expanding and Simplifying (x-3)^2
In algebra, expanding and simplifying expressions are essential skills to master. One common expression that students often struggle with is (x-3)^2
. In this article, we will guide you through the process of expanding and simplifying this expression.
Expanding (x-3)^2
To expand (x-3)^2
, we need to multiply the expression by itself. This is because the exponent 2 means "squared", so we need to multiply x-3
by itself.
(x-3)^2 = (x-3)(x-3)
Now, let's multiply the two binomials using the distributive property of multiplication over addition.
= x(x-3) - 3(x-3)
Simplifying the Expression
Next, we need to simplify the expression by combining like terms.
= x^2 - 3x - 3x + 9
Combining like terms, we get:
= x^2 - 6x + 9
And that's it! We have successfully expanded and simplified (x-3)^2
.
Final Answer
The final answer is:
(x-3)^2 = x^2 - 6x + 9
Remember to always follow the order of operations (PEMDAS) and combine like terms when simplifying expressions. With practice, you'll become proficient in expanding and simplifying algebraic expressions!