Question

Jaleel and Lisa are simplifying the expression 2(x - 2)^2. Jaleel’s method: 2(x - 2)^2 = 2x - 4 Lisa’s method: 2(x - 2)^2 = 2x. Whose method is correct and why? a) Lisa’s method is correct because 2(x - 2) equals 2x - 2. b) Lisa’s method is correct because 2(x - 2) equals 2x. c) Jaleel is correct because 2(x - 2) equals 2x - 2. d) Jaleel is correct because 2(x - 2) equals 2x - 4.

Answer 1

The correct method is **c) Jaleel is correct because 2(x - 2) equals 2x - 2.**

Here's why:

Jaleel's method correctly expands the expression 2(x - 2)^2. When you square (x - 2), you get (x - 2)(x - 2), which simplifies to x^2 - 4x + 4. Then, multiplying this by 2 gives you 2(x^2 - 4x + 4), which simplifies further to 2x^2 - 8x + 8.

Lisa's method, on the other hand, incorrectly simplifies it as 2x. This is not the correct expansion of 2(x - 2)^2, as it neglects the square of (x - 2) and simplifies it incorrectly.

So, Jaleel's method is the correct one.