SAT Mathematics Practice Test 5

The first expression ${\left(1.5\mathit{x}-2.4\right)}^2$ can be rewritten as $\left(1.5\mathit{x}-2.4\right)\left(1.5\mathit{x}-2.4\right).$ Applying the distributive property to this product yields This difference can be rewritten as Distributing the factor of $-1$ through the second expression yields Regrouping like terms, the expression becomes Combining like terms yields $-2.95{\mathit{x}}^2-7.2\mathit{x}+12.16.$
Choices A, B, and D are incorrect and likely result from errors made when applying the distributive property or combining the resulting like terms.