Chapter 5: Problem 15
Multiply. $$-2 a^{2}\left(3 a^{2}-2 a+3\right)$$
Short Answer
Expert verified
-6a^4 + 4a^3 - 6a^2
Step by step solution
01
Write Down the Expression
We start with the expression given in the problem: \(-2 a^{2} (3 a^{2} - 2 a + 3)\).
02
Distribute the First Term
We apply the distributive property, multiplying \(-2 a^{2}\) by each term inside the parentheses: \(-2 a^{2} imes 3 a^{2} = -6 a^{4}\).
03
Distribute the Second Term
Continuing with distribution, multiply \(-2 a^{2}\) by the second term inside the parentheses:\(-2 a^{2} imes (-2 a) = 4 a^{3}\).
04
Distribute the Third Term
Finally, multiply \(-2 a^{2}\) by the third term inside the parentheses: \(-2 a^{2} imes 3 = -6 a^{2}\).
05
Write the Simplified Expression
Combine the results from Steps 2, 3, and 4 into a single expression: \(-6 a^{4} + 4 a^{3} - 6 a^{2}\).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Distributive Property
The distributive property is a mathematical rule that can make algebraic operations easier and more streamlined. When we use this property, we're essentially multiplying a single term by each of the terms inside a set of parentheses. This property can be summarized as:
For our exercise,
- If you have an expression like this: \( a(b + c) \), using the distributive property, it becomes: \( ab + ac \).
For our exercise,
- We multiplied \( -2a^2 \) by each term inside the parentheses \( (3a^2 - 2a + 3) \).
Algebraic Expressions
Algebraic expressions are like the language of algebra. They consist of numbers, variables, and operations. Each expression acts like a mathematical sentence that can tell us how numbers and variables relate to each other.
In algebraic expressions:
In algebraic expressions:
- Variables stand for unknown values. They’re often represented by letters like \( a, b, ext{or} x \).
- Constants are known values, such as numbers like 2 or 3.
- Coefficients are numbers that multiply the variables.
- The coefficient is \(-2\), multiplying the variable \(a^2\).
- Inside the parentheses, each term is its own algebraic expression: \(3a^2, -2a, ext{and} 3\).
Order of Operations
Order of operations is a fundamental principle in mathematics ensuring that expressions are evaluated consistently and correctly. This concept is often remembered with the acronym PEMDAS:
In our original problem, the order of operations guided us:
- Parentheses
- Exponents
- Multiplication and Division (from left to right)
- Addition and Subtraction (from left to right)
In our original problem, the order of operations guided us:
- First, we addressed the operations within the parentheses by using the distributive property.
- We didn't have any exponents to solve separately, but they are evident in the terms themselves such as \(a^2\).
- Subsequent multiplication involved handling the distribution across each term inside the resulting algebraic expression.