From first to last, order the steps to prove that expression A is equivalent to expression B.

Expression A: (x + 4)(x - 2)
Expression B: x ^ 2 + 2x - 8

Option #1: (x + 4)(x - 2) (Start)
Option #2 x ^ 2 - 2x + 4x - 8
Option #3 x ^ 2 + 2x - 8
Option #4: x(x) - x(2) + 4(z) - 4(2)

First: Option#
Second: Option#
Third: Option#
Fourth: Option#

1 answer

To prove that Expression A is equivalent to Expression B, we need to follow the correct steps of algebraic manipulation (specifically, expanding the expression).

  1. First: Option #1: (x + 4)(x - 2) (Start)
  2. Second: Option #2: x^2 - 2x + 4x - 8 (Expand: using the distributive property or FOIL)
  3. Third: Option #3: x^2 + 2x - 8 (Combine like terms)
  4. Fourth: Option #4: x(x) - x(2) + 4(z) - 4(2) (This step doesn't correctly apply, as it doesn't represent standard multiplication, but the point is already proven by reaching expression B.)

So, the correctly ordered steps are:

First: Option #1
Second: Option #2
Third: Option #3
Fourth: Option #4