Multiply the polynomial expression (x+2)(x−4)

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1 answer

To multiply the polynomial expression \((x + 2)(x - 4)\), we can use the distributive property (also known as the FOIL method for binomials):

\[ (x + 2)(x - 4) = x(x - 4) + 2(x - 4) \]

Now, let's distribute each term:

  1. \(x(x - 4) = x^2 - 4x\)
  2. \(2(x - 4) = 2x - 8\)

Now we add those results together:

\[ x^2 - 4x + 2x - 8 \]

Combining like terms:

\[ x^2 - 2x - 8 \]

So, the final result of multiplying \((x + 2)(x - 4)\) is:

\[ \boxed{x^2 - 2x - 8} \]