Question

PLease Help will fan and give medal! :3
Expand and then simplify the expression
(a + 2)(a + 2)

Answer 1

\[(a+b)^2=a^2+2ab+b^2\] always
put \(a=a,b=2\)

Answer 2

there is no b @satellite73

Answer 3

Could you show me the steps on how to solve it please?

Answer 4

here is one way. rename the first (a+2) as A
so the problem is
A(a+2)
now distribute the A. Can you do that ?

Answer 5

distribute the A means multiply each term in the parens by A

Answer 6

yeah I can

Answer 7

what do you get ?

Answer 8

Would it be a^2+2a?

Answer 9

I should have used a different letter than A.
let's use d= (a+2)
so the problem is
d(a+2)

now what do you get?

Answer 10

you should get
ad + 2d

Answer 11

Yeah that's what I got

Answer 12

now we remember that d is short for (a+2)
and write
ad+2d as
a(a+2) + 2(a+2)


now we have two problems that you know how to do. distribute the a
and distribute the 2

all together what do you get ?

Answer 13

Here is a video, when you have time,
http://www.khanacademy.org/math/algebra/multiplying-factoring-expression/multiplying-binomials/v/multiplying-binomials

Answer 14

Thank you. I'll watch it. I can understand things better if i can hear and see what's going on. Not so good online.

Answer 15

ok, post your answer when you get it.

Answer 16

a^2+4a+4

Answer 17

yes.

notice satellite's post gave the "short way"

also, if we finished
a(a+2) + 2(a+2)
we get
a^2 + 2a + 2a+ 4
and that simplifies to
a^2 +4a + 4

(but if you watched the video, you know that!)

Answer 18

Lol yeah I did. Thank You so much. :)