(a - 8)(a + 2)

i am supposed to "find the product"
i have no idea what to do at all...
i think it might be a^2 - 16 but i have no idea how to get that, it just looks right...
yeah i guessed...

 

You english and your english terms. Find me a more understandable term and I'll tell you the answer.

 

a^2- 6a - 16 would be the right answer. Someone correct me if I'm wrong though.

 

Yeah, that's true but I can't understand the "product" term.

 

what terms are giving you trouble?

 

Actually wait, one small error. It's -16 not +16.

That would've cost me big in an exam.

 

well, that's one of the options so i wil go with that.

"product" is the result of multiplying, if that helps...

 

Then the naswer is what candlejack gave you.

 

i dont suppose you could tell me how you did that?
these tests give you the same kinds of problems in sets of five, then switch to a different one, so i have 4 left to solve in the same manner....

 

(a-8)(a+2)=a*a+a*2-8a-8*2=a^2-6a-16
You multiply everything in one bracket with everything in the other bracket

 

ok thanks.