(x-3)^2 Expand And Simplify

2 min read Jul 03, 2024
(x-3)^2 Expand And Simplify

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!

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