Expand and simplify (x+4)(x-3)

We need to multiply out each bracket and it is best to do this systematically, multiplying each term in the left hand bracket by each term in the right hand bracket. (x+4)(x-3) = (X x X) + (X x -3) + (4 x X) + (4 x -3)        = x² -3x+4x -12 However, this is not our final answer because we still need to simplify our like terms. -3X and 4X are both like terms and so these can be simplified. -3x+4x = x Therefore (x+4)(x-3) = x²+x-12