Question

Simplify the variable expression. $$\left(\frac{1}{8}\right)(-4)(-x)(-x)$$

Short answer

-0.5x^2

Step-by-step solution

Evaluate the numerical expression

Evaluate the numerical part of the expression first. This means multiplying \(\frac{1}{8}\) by -4 which equals to -0.5.

Multiply by Negative Variables

Next, multiply -0.5 by -x, which equals to positive 0.5x because the product of two negatives is a positive. Repeat the same process once again, 0.5x multiplied by -x equals to -0.5x^2 due to the fact that any term multiplied by the same variable gets exponentiated.

Simplify Further if Possible

In this case, the expression cannot be simplified any further. Hence, -0.5x^2 is the simplified form of the given variable expression.