(x-2)^3-x^2(x-4)+8

2 min read Jun 17, 2024
(x-2)^3-x^2(x-4)+8

Simplifying and Factoring the Expression: (x-2)³ - x²(x-4) + 8

This article will guide you through the process of simplifying and factoring the expression (x-2)³ - x²(x-4) + 8.

Step 1: Expanding the Expression

Firstly, we need to expand the expression. Let's start by expanding (x-2)³:

(x-2)³ = (x-2)(x-2)(x-2)

We can expand this by multiplying the first two terms and then multiplying the result by the third term:

(x-2)(x-2)(x-2) = (x² - 4x + 4)(x-2)

Next, we expand this product:

(x² - 4x + 4)(x-2) = x³ - 6x² + 12x - 8

Now, let's expand the second term in the original expression, x²(x-4):

x²(x-4) = x³ - 4x²

Finally, we can rewrite the entire expression:

(x-2)³ - x²(x-4) + 8 = (x³ - 6x² + 12x - 8) - (x³ - 4x²) + 8

Step 2: Simplifying the Expression

Now, we can simplify the expression by combining like terms:

(x³ - 6x² + 12x - 8) - (x³ - 4x²) + 8 = -2x² + 12x

Therefore, the simplified expression is -2x² + 12x.

Step 3: Factoring the Expression

We can factor out a -2x from the simplified expression:

-2x² + 12x = -2x(x - 6)

Conclusion

We have successfully simplified and factored the expression (x-2)³ - x²(x-4) + 8. The simplified expression is -2x² + 12x, and the factored expression is -2x(x - 6). This process demonstrates the importance of expanding, simplifying, and factoring expressions to understand their structure and behavior.