Simplify (x+1)(x-4)

$(x + 1) (x - 4)$

Step 1

Expand $(x + 1) (x - 4)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$x (x - 4) + 1 (x - 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 + 1 (x - 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 + 1 x + 1 \cdot - 4$

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 + 1 x + 1 \cdot - 4$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

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

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

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

Multiply $x$ by $1$ .

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

Multiply $- 4$ by $1$ .

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

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

Add $- 4 x$ and $x$ .

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

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

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