Simplifying (x + 8)^2
The expression (x + 8)^2 represents the square of the binomial (x + 8). To simplify it, we can use the following steps:
Understanding the Square of a Binomial
The square of a binomial is the product of the binomial with itself. In this case, we have:
(x + 8)^2 = (x + 8) * (x + 8)
Expanding the Expression
To simplify, we need to expand the product by applying the distributive property (also known as FOIL):
(x + 8) * (x + 8) = x(x + 8) + 8(x + 8)
Now we multiply each term inside the parentheses:
= x^2 + 8x + 8x + 64
Combining Like Terms
Finally, we combine the like terms:
= x^2 + 16x + 64
The Simplified Expression
Therefore, the simplified form of (x + 8)^2 is x^2 + 16x + 64.
Key Points to Remember
- The expression (x + 8)^2 represents the square of a binomial.
- You can use the FOIL method to expand the expression.
- Combine like terms to get the simplified form.
This process of simplifying a binomial squared can be applied to other similar expressions. Remember to carefully apply the distributive property and combine like terms.