Simplify (x+12)(x-12)

$(x + 12) (x - 12)$

Step 1

Expand $(x + 12) (x - 12)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$x (x - 12) + 12 (x - 12)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 12 + 12 (x - 12)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 12 + 12 x + 12 \cdot - 12$

Step 2

Simplify terms.

Combine the opposite terms in $x \cdot x + x \cdot - 12 + 12 x + 12 \cdot - 12$ .

Reorder the factors in the terms $x \cdot - 12$ and $12 x$ .

$x \cdot x - 12 x + 12 x + 12 \cdot - 12$

Add $- 12 x$ and $12 x$ .

$x \cdot x + 0 + 12 \cdot - 12$

Add $x \cdot x$ and $0$ .

$x \cdot x + 12 \cdot - 12$

Simplify each term.

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

$x^{2} + 12 \cdot - 12$

Multiply $12$ by $- 12$ .

$x^{2} - 144$