Question

According to the Distributive Property, which is a way to rewrite the algebraic expression (3x−1)(x−4)
?(1 point)
Responses

3x2+6x+4
3 x squared plus 6 x plus 4

3x2−5x+4
3 x squared minus 5 x plus 4

3x(x)+3x(−4)+−1(x)+−1(−4)
3 x left parenthesis x right parenthesis plus 3 x left parenthesis negative 4 right parenthesis plus negative 1 left parenthesis x right parenthesis plus negative 1 left parenthesis negative 4 right parenthesis

3x(−1)+3x(3x)+x(−4)+x(x)

1 answer

To rewrite the expression \((3x - 1)(x - 4)\) using the Distributive Property, we need to distribute each term in the first parentheses to each term in the second parentheses.

  1. Distributing \(3x\):

    • \(3x \cdot x = 3x^2\)
    • \(3x \cdot (-4) = -12x\)
  2. Distributing \(-1\):

    • \(-1 \cdot x = -x\)
    • \(-1 \cdot (-4) = 4\)

Now combine all the terms: \[ 3x^2 - 12x - x + 4 \] Combine like terms: \[ 3x^2 - 13x + 4 \]

None of the provided responses seem to match this directly. However, let’s check each option:

  1. 3x² + 6x + 4 (Not correct)
  2. 3x² - 5x + 4 (Not correct)
  3. 3x(x) + 3x(-4) + -1(x) + -1(-4) (This expands correctly to our earlier steps but isn't simplified)
  4. 3x(-1) + 3x(3x) + x(-4) + x(x) (Not correct; has wrong terms)

The expression that best represents \((3x - 1)(x - 4)\) using the Distributive Property, in a general simplified form, is: \[ \boxed{3x^2 - 13x + 4} \]

However, since that isn't an option, the closest option to the expansion steps is the third one, even though it needs simplification: 3x(x) + 3x(−4) + −1(x) + −1(−4)