Simplify (x-2)(x-4)

$(x - 2) (x - 4)$

Step 1

Expand $(x - 2) (x - 4)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$x (x - 4) - 2 (x - 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 - 2 (x - 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 - 2 x - 2 \cdot - 4$

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 - 2 x - 2 \cdot - 4$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

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

Move $- 4$ to the left of $x$ .

$x^{2} - 4 \cdot x - 2 x - 2 \cdot - 4$

Multiply $- 2$ by $- 4$ .

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

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

Subtract $2 x$ from $- 4 x$ .

$x^{2} - 6 x + 8$

$x^{2} - 6 x + 8$

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