Simplify (3a+2)(a-2)

$(3 a + 2) (a - 2)$

Step 1

Expand $(3 a + 2) (a - 2)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$3 a (a - 2) + 2 (a - 2)$

Apply the distributive property.

$3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 2 + 2 (a - 2)$

Apply the distributive property.

$3 a \cdot a + 3 a \cdot - 2 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 2$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Multiply $a$ by $a$ by adding the exponents.

Move $a$ .

$3 (a \cdot a) + 3 a \cdot - 2 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 2$

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$3 a^{2} + 3 a \cdot - 2 + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 2$

Multiply $- 2$ by $3$ .

$3 a^{2} - 6 a + 2 a + 2 \cdot - 2$

Multiply $2$ by $- 2$ .

$3 a^{2} - 6 a + 2 a - 4$

Add $- 6 a$ and $2 a$ .

$3 a^{2} - 4 a - 4$