To simplify the function f ( x ) = ( x + 2 ) ( 2 ) ( x + 3 ) ( 3 ) , we first multiply the constant terms to get 6. Then, we multiply the binomials to find ( x + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) = x 2 + 5 x + 6 and multiply the result by 6, yielding the final polynomial f ( x ) = 6 x 2 + 30 x + 36 .
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Multiply the constant terms: 2 × 3 = 6 .
Multiply the binomial factors: ( x + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) = x 2 + 5 x + 6 .
Multiply the result by the constant: 6 ( x 2 + 5 x + 6 ) = 6 x 2 + 30 x + 36 .
The simplified polynomial function is: 6 x 2 + 30 x + 36 .
Explanation
Analyzing the Expression Let's analyze the given expression and the instructions. The expression is presented as f ( x ) = ( x + 2 ) ( + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) ( 3 ) . There appear to be some formatting issues, particularly with the (+2) and (+3) terms. Assuming these are meant to be constants, we can interpret the function as f ( x ) = ( x + 2 ) ⋅ 2 ⋅ ( x + 3 ) ⋅ 3 . The goal is to simplify this expression into a polynomial function P ( x ) using the distributive property.
Multiplying Constants First, let's multiply the constant terms together: 2 × 3 = 6 . So, we can rewrite the function as f ( x ) = 6 ( x + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) .
Multiplying Binomials Next, we'll multiply the binomial factors ( x + 2 ) and ( x + 3 ) using the distributive property (also known as the FOIL method). This means we multiply each term in the first binomial by each term in the second binomial:
( x + 2 ) ( x + 3 ) = x ⋅ x + x ⋅ 3 + 2 ⋅ x + 2 ⋅ 3 = x 2 + 3 x + 2 x + 6
Simplifying the Expression Now, we simplify the expression by combining like terms: x 2 + 3 x + 2 x + 6 = x 2 + 5 x + 6 .
Final Multiplication and Result Finally, we multiply the resulting trinomial by the constant factor 6: 6 ( x 2 + 5 x + 6 ) = 6 ⋅ x 2 + 6 ⋅ 5 x + 6 ⋅ 6 = 6 x 2 + 30 x + 36 . Therefore, the simplified polynomial function is P ( x ) = 6 x 2 + 30 x + 36 .
Examples
Polynomial functions are used in various real-world applications, such as modeling the trajectory of a ball, designing roller coasters, or even predicting population growth. For example, if you throw a ball, its height over time can be modeled by a quadratic polynomial. Understanding how to manipulate and simplify these functions is crucial in many scientific and engineering fields. In this case, we simplified a polynomial function by multiplying its factors, which is a fundamental skill in algebra.