Multiply????????????????

after doing F.O.I.L. you must combine like terms

the like terms in this case are the ones that have a denominator including x, not x^2, just x

the two like terms are:

-1/4x and 1/20x, but because one denominator is greater than the other, you must find the lowest common denominator

your denominators are 4x, and 20x

if you multiply 4x * 5 you get 20x, so 20x is the LCD

so change your fractions.

you get -5/20x and 1/20x


so combine the terms,

-5/20x + 1/20x = -4/20x

which can REDUCE to -1/5x, because they are both the numerator and denominator are divisible by 4.

then plug it in to your expression

1/8x^2 -1/5x - 1/2


hope that helps!

Look at the two center calculations answers of FOIL:
(-1/4)x and (1/20)x have to be added.
You add them because they both have the same degree of x. (x^1)
So you add -1/4 to 1/20.

20 is the LCM (least common multiple) of the demoniators of the two fractions.
Now convert them to a common demonator.
-1/4x * 5/5 = -5/20x
1/20 * 1/1 = 1/20x
-5/20x + 1/20x = -4/20x > reduce fraction > -1/5x

1/8x^2 + -1/4x + 1/20x + -1/10
= 1/8x^2 + (-1/4x + 1/20x) - 1/10
= 1/8x^2 + (-5/20x + 1/20x) - 1/10
= 1/8x^2 + (-4/20x) - 1/10
= 1/8x^2 + (-1/5x) - 1/10
= 1/8x^2 - 1/5x - 1/10

You've come this far and you forgot how to add fractions?
1/20 - 1/4 = 1/20 - 5/20 = -4/20 = -1/5

common denominator

1/20x - 1/4x
1/20x - 5/20x = -4/20x = -1/5x

1/8x^2 - 1/5x -1/10

(1/2x+1/5)(1/4x-1/2)=1/8x^2 + 1/20x - 1/4x -1/10
= 1/8x^2 - 1/5x -1/10
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