Simplify (3x+8)(3x-8)

$(3 x + 8) (3 x - 8)$

Step 1

Expand $(3 x + 8) (3 x - 8)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$3 x (3 x - 8) + 8 (3 x - 8)$

Apply the distributive property.

$3 x (3 x) + 3 x \cdot - 8 + 8 (3 x - 8)$

Apply the distributive property.

$3 x (3 x) + 3 x \cdot - 8 + 8 (3 x) + 8 \cdot - 8$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Rewrite using the commutative property of multiplication.

$3 \cdot 3 x \cdot x + 3 x \cdot - 8 + 8 (3 x) + 8 \cdot - 8$

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

Move $x$ .

$3 \cdot 3 (x \cdot x) + 3 x \cdot - 8 + 8 (3 x) + 8 \cdot - 8$

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

$3 \cdot 3 x^{2} + 3 x \cdot - 8 + 8 (3 x) + 8 \cdot - 8$

Multiply $3$ by $3$ .

$9 x^{2} + 3 x \cdot - 8 + 8 (3 x) + 8 \cdot - 8$

Multiply $- 8$ by $3$ .

$9 x^{2} - 24 x + 8 (3 x) + 8 \cdot - 8$

Multiply $3$ by $8$ .

$9 x^{2} - 24 x + 24 x + 8 \cdot - 8$

Multiply $8$ by $- 8$ .

$9 x^{2} - 24 x + 24 x - 64$

Add $- 24 x$ and $24 x$ .

$9 x^{2} + 0 - 64$

Add $9 x^{2}$ and $0$ .

$9 x^{2} - 64$