simplify (x + 4)^2 - (x + 4) - 2: tried (x+4)(x+4)-(x+4)-2

[facw3]

need help to simplify

(x+4)^2-(x+4)-2

i started to simplify, but confused on the proper steps

(x+4) (x+4)-(x+4)-2

do I use FOIL on (x+4) (x+4) OR does that -(x+4) changes into (x-4) and cancels out?

 

[royhaas]

Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!

\(\displaystyle (x+4)^2-(x+4)-2 = (x+4)( x+4 - 1) -2\).

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!

need help to simplify <<< simplify or factorize???

(x+4)^2-(x+4)-2

i started to simplify, but confused on the proper steps

(x+4) (x+4)-(x+4)-2

do I use FOIL on (x+4) (x+4) OR does that -(x+4) changes into (x-4) and cancels out?

If you needed to factorize then:

substitute:

u = x+4

Your equation becomes

u^2 - u - 2

= (u-2)(u+1)

Now substitute back 'x+4' for 'u' and simplify.

 

[Denis]

Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!

(x+4) (x+4) - (x+4) - 2
do I use FOIL on (x+4) (x+4) OR does that -(x+4) changes into (x-4) and cancels out?

C'mon Facw: if you have as example 7 * 7 - 7 - 2, does the -7 cancel one of the 7's?

 

[Loren]

Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!

Another way, though inefficient, is to multiply out the first term and proceed to remove the parenthesis and simplify. This will result in x[sup:hdzhbf0t]2[/sup:hdzhbf0t] + 7x + 10 which can be factored using FOIL.

 

[Denis]

Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!

(x+4)^2 - (x+4)- 2

or, since we have (x + 4)(x + 4) - (x + 4) - 2:

(x + 4)(x + 4 - 1) - 2
= (x + 4)(x + 3) - 2
= x^2 + 7x + 12 - 2
= x^2 + 7x + 10 (as per Loren)

 

[facw3]

Re: HELP!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks everyone that assisted me on this!