Simplifying the Expression (x-2)(x-3)(x+4)
This expression represents the product of three binomials. To simplify it, we need to multiply them out step by step.
Step 1: Multiply the first two binomials
Let's start by multiplying (x-2) and (x-3) using the distributive property (or FOIL method):
(x-2)(x-3) = x(x-3) - 2(x-3) = x² - 3x - 2x + 6 = x² - 5x + 6
Step 2: Multiply the result by the third binomial
Now, we multiply the simplified expression (x² - 5x + 6) by (x+4):
(x² - 5x + 6)(x+4) = x²(x+4) - 5x(x+4) + 6(x+4) = x³ + 4x² - 5x² - 20x + 6x + 24 = x³ - x² - 14x + 24
Final Simplified Expression
Therefore, the simplified form of the expression (x-2)(x-3)(x+4) is x³ - x² - 14x + 24.