Pre-Algebra Examples Simplifying and Evaluating Expressions

Multiply

$(x - 1) (x + 2)$

Step 1

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

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Step 1.1

Apply the distributive property.

$x (x + 2) - 1 (x + 2)$

Step 1.2

Apply the distributive property.

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

Step 1.3

Apply the distributive property.

$x \cdot x + x \cdot 2 - 1 x - 1 \cdot 2$

Step 2

Simplify and combine like terms.

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Step 2.1

Simplify each term.

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Step 2.1.1

Multiply $x$ by $x$ .

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

Step 2.1.2

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

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

Step 2.1.3

Rewrite $- 1 x$ as $- x$ .

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

Step 2.1.4

Multiply $- 1$ by $2$ .

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

Step 2.2

Subtract $x$ from $2 x$ .

$x^{2} + x - 2$

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