Algebra Examples

$(x^{2} - 4 x + 2) (- x^{2} - 4 x - 4)$

Step 1

To write a polynomial in standard form, simplify and then arrange the terms in descending order.

$a x^{2} + b x + c$

Step 2

Expand $(x^{2} - 4 x + 2) (- x^{2} - 4 x - 4)$ by multiplying each term in the first expression by each term in the second expression.

$x^{2} (- x^{2}) + x^{2} (- 4 x) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3

Simplify terms.

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Step 3.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 3.1.1

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$- x^{2} x^{2} + x^{2} (- 4 x) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.2

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x^{2}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 3.1.2.1

Move $x^{2}$ .

$- (x^{2} x^{2}) + x^{2} (- 4 x) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.2.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- x^{2 + 2} + x^{2} (- 4 x) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.2.3

Add $2$ and $2$ .

$- x^{4} + x^{2} (- 4 x) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.3

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{2} x + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.4

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 3.1.4.1

Move $x$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 (x \cdot x^{2}) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.4.2

Multiply $x$ by $x^{2}$ .

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Step 3.1.4.2.1

Raise $x$ to the power of $1$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 (x^{1} x^{2}) + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.4.2.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{1 + 2} + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.4.3

Add $1$ and $2$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} + x^{2} \cdot - 4 - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.5

Move $- 4$ to the left of $x^{2}$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 \cdot x^{2} - 4 x (- x^{2}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.6

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} - 4 \cdot - 1 x \cdot x^{2} - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.7

Multiply $x$ by $x^{2}$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 3.1.7.1

Move $x^{2}$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} - 4 \cdot - 1 (x^{2} x) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.7.2

Multiply $x^{2}$ by $x$ .

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Step 3.1.7.2.1

Raise $x$ to the power of $1$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} - 4 \cdot - 1 (x^{2} x^{1}) - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.7.2.2

Use the power rule $a^{m} a^{n} = a^{m + n}$ to combine exponents.

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} - 4 \cdot - 1 x^{2 + 1} - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.7.3

Add $2$ and $1$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} - 4 \cdot - 1 x^{3} - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.8

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 1$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} - 4 x (- 4 x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.9

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} - 4 \cdot - 4 x \cdot x - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.10

Multiply $x$ by $x$ by adding the exponents.

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Step 3.1.10.1

Move $x$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} - 4 \cdot - 4 (x \cdot x) - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.10.2

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} - 4 \cdot - 4 x^{2} - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.11

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 4$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} + 16 x^{2} - 4 x \cdot - 4 + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.12

Multiply $- 4$ by $- 4$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} + 16 x^{2} + 16 x + 2 (- x^{2}) + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.13

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} + 16 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} + 2 (- 4 x) + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.14

Multiply $- 4$ by $2$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} + 16 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} - 8 x + 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 3.1.15

Multiply $2$ by $- 4$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} + 16 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} - 8 x - 8$

Step 3.2

Simplify by adding terms.

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Step 3.2.1

Combine the opposite terms in $- x^{4} - 4 x^{3} - 4 x^{2} + 4 x^{3} + 16 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} - 8 x - 8$ .

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Step 3.2.1.1

Add $- 4 x^{3}$ and $4 x^{3}$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{2} + 0 + 16 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} - 8 x - 8$

Step 3.2.1.2

Add $- x^{4} - 4 x^{2}$ and $0$ .

$- x^{4} - 4 x^{2} + 16 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} - 8 x - 8$

Step 3.2.2

Add $- 4 x^{2}$ and $16 x^{2}$ .

$- x^{4} + 12 x^{2} + 16 x - 2 x^{2} - 8 x - 8$

Step 3.2.3

Subtract $2 x^{2}$ from $12 x^{2}$ .

$- x^{4} + 10 x^{2} + 16 x - 8 x - 8$

Step 3.2.4

Subtract $8 x$ from $16 x$ .

$- x^{4} + 10 x^{2} + 8 x - 8$