Algebra · real student question

Expand and simplify (x + 5y)(2x - y).

Question

Expand and simplify

(x+5y)(2xy)(x+5y)(2x-y)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Distribute the first term of the left bracket. Multiply xx by each term of (2xy)(2x-y):

    x(2xy)=2x2xyx(2x-y)=2x^2-xy

  2. Distribute the second term. Now multiply 5y5y by each term, watching the sign on y-y:

    5y(2xy)=10xy5y25y(2x-y)=10xy-5y^2

    Here 5y(y)=5y25y\cdot(-y)=-5y^2, not 5y-5y — multiplying two yy factors raises the power.

  3. Add the four terms.

    2x2xy+10xy5y22x^2-xy+10xy-5y^2

  4. Combine the like terms. Only the two xyxy terms are alike; x2x^2 and y2y^2 have no partners:

    xy+10xy=9xy2x2+9xy5y2-xy+10xy=9xy\quad\Longrightarrow\quad 2x^2+9xy-5y^2

  5. Check with a substitution. At x=1x=1, y=2y=2: the original is (1+10)(22)=110=0(1+10)(2-2)=11\cdot 0=0, and the expansion gives 2+1820=02+18-20=0 \checkmark. A second test at x=2x=2, y=1y=1: (2+5)(41)=21(2+5)(4-1)=21, and 8+185=218+18-5=21 \checkmark.

Answer

(x+5y)(2xy)=2x2+9xy5y2(x+5y)(2x-y)=2x^2+9xy-5y^2

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