Which of these is a correct expansion of [tex]$(3x - 1)(4x^2 + 5)$[/tex]?

A. [tex]3x \cdot 4x^2 + (-1) \cdot 4x^2 + 4x^2 \cdot 5 + (-1) \cdot 5[/tex]
B. [tex]3x \cdot 4x^2 + 3x \cdot 5 + (-1) \cdot 4x^2 + (-1) \cdot 5[/tex]
C. [tex]3x \cdot 4x^2 + 3x \cdot 5 + 1 \cdot 4x^2 + 1 \cdot 5[/tex]



Answer :

To determine the correct expansion of [tex]\((3x - 1)(4x^2 + 5)\)[/tex], we need to use the distributive property, also known as the FOIL method for binomials, to expand the expression.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

1. Distribute [tex]\(3x\)[/tex] to each term inside the second parenthesis:
- [tex]\(3x \cdot 4x^2 = 12x^3\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(3x \cdot 5 = 15x\)[/tex]

2. Distribute [tex]\(-1\)[/tex] to each term inside the second parenthesis:
- [tex]\(-1 \cdot 4x^2 = -4x^2\)[/tex]
- [tex]\(-1 \cdot 5 = -5\)[/tex]

Now, combining all these products together:
[tex]\[ 12x^3 + 15x - 4x^2 - 5 \][/tex]

From the given options, we can compare our calculated steps to find the matching expansion:

- Option A: [tex]\(3x \cdot 4x^2 + (-1) \cdot 4x^2 + 4x^2 \cdot 5 + (-1) \cdot 5\)[/tex]
- This includes terms that are not correctly distributed from the original expression and is incorrect.

- Option B: [tex]\(3x \cdot 4x^2 + 3x \cdot 5 + (-1) \cdot 4x^2 + (-1) \cdot 5\)[/tex]
- This correctly matches our calculated distribution steps.

- Option C: [tex]\(3x \cdot 4x^2 + 3x \cdot 5 + 1 \cdot 4x^2 + 1 \cdot 5\)[/tex]
- This also includes incorrect signs and is not the correct distribution.

Therefore, the correct expansion given among the options is:
[tex]\[ \boxed{\text{Option B}\: 3x \cdot 4x^2 + 3x \cdot 5 + (-1) \cdot 4x^2 + (-1) \cdot 5} \][/tex]