Simplify (x-5)(x-4)

$(x - 5) (x - 4)$

Step 1

Expand $(x - 5) (x - 4)$ using the FOIL Method.

Apply the distributive property.

$x (x - 4) - 5 (x - 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 - 5 (x - 4)$

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 - 5 x - 5 \cdot - 4$

$x \cdot x + x \cdot - 4 - 5 x - 5 \cdot - 4$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

Simplify each term.

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

$x^{2} + x \cdot - 4 - 5 x - 5 \cdot - 4$

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

$x^{2} - 4 \cdot x - 5 x - 5 \cdot - 4$

Multiply $- 5$ by $- 4$ .

$x^{2} - 4 x - 5 x + 20$

$x^{2} - 4 x - 5 x + 20$

Subtract $5 x$ from $- 4 x$ .

$x^{2} - 9 x + 20$

$x^{2} - 9 x + 20$

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