Equation solving problem understaning

[Solar_blaze]

Hello I have hard time to solve equations of this sort
(8-X)^2
and (X-4)^2
how do I simplify or solve it ?

 

[Ishuda]

Hello I have hard time to solve equations of this sort
(8-X)^2
and (X-4)^2
how do I simplify or solve it ?

What are your thoughts? What have you done so far? Please show us your work even if you feel that it is wrong so we may try to help you. You might also read
http://www.freemathhelp.com/forum/threads/78006-Read-Before-Posting

As a hint, do you know what (8-X)^2 means? In a basic sense, the caret (^) indicates an exponent which is shorthand for repeated multiplications and the exponent value (in this case 2) is the number of repeats. For example, 5^2 means 5*5; 4^3 means 4*4*4; 7^1 means 7.

 

[stapel]

Hello I have hard time to solve equations of this sort
(8-X)^2
and (X-4)^2

Since these have no "equals" in them, they are not "equations" to "solve". Instead, they are "expressions", and the instructions probably say to "simplify" or "expand".

how do I simplify or solve it ?

What did the instructions actually say? Also, have you studied yet how to multiply polynomials? Thank you!

 

[Solar_blaze]

Haaa ok I think I got it
(8-X)^2 is simplified/expanded to
(8-X)(8-X) ? And (X-4)^2
Is (X-4)(X-4) ?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Haaa ok I think I got it
(8-X)^2 is simplified/expanded to
(8-X)(8-X) ? And (X-4)^2
Is (X-4)(X-4) ?

(a + b)^2 = (a + b) * (a + b) = a * (a + b) + b * (a + b) = a * a + a * b + b * b + b * a = a^2 + 2*a*b + b^2

similarly

(a - b)^2 = (a - b) * (a - b) = a * (a - b) - b * (a - b) = a * a + a * (-b) - b * a -b * (-b) = a^2 - 2*a*b + b^2