Simplify (a-1)(a-2)

$(a - 1) (a - 2)$

Step 1

Expand $(a - 1) (a - 2)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$a (a - 2) - 1 (a - 2)$

Apply the distributive property.

$a \cdot a + a \cdot - 2 - 1 (a - 2)$

Apply the distributive property.

$a \cdot a + a \cdot - 2 - 1 a - 1 \cdot - 2$

$a \cdot a + a \cdot - 2 - 1 a - 1 \cdot - 2$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Multiply $a$ by $a$ .

$a^{2} + a \cdot - 2 - 1 a - 1 \cdot - 2$

Move $- 2$ to the left of $a$ .

$a^{2} - 2 \cdot a - 1 a - 1 \cdot - 2$

Rewrite $- 1 a$ as $- a$ .

$a^{2} - 2 a - a - 1 \cdot - 2$

Multiply $- 1$ by $- 2$ .

$a^{2} - 2 a - a + 2$

$a^{2} - 2 a - a + 2$

Subtract $a$ from $- 2 a$ .

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

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

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