Simplify (x-4)(x+2)

$(x - 4) (x + 2)$

Step 1

Expand $(x - 4) (x + 2)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$x (x + 2) - 4 (x + 2)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot 2 - 4 (x + 2)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot 2 - 4 x - 4 \cdot 2$

$x \cdot x + x \cdot 2 - 4 x - 4 \cdot 2$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

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

Move $2$ to the left of $x$ .

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

Multiply $- 4$ by $2$ .

$x^{2} + 2 x - 4 x - 8$

$x^{2} + 2 x - 4 x - 8$

Subtract $4 x$ from $2 x$ .

$x^{2} - 2 x - 8$

$x^{2} - 2 x - 8$

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