Multiply polynomial $ \, \color{blue}{ x^2-1 } \, $ by $ \, \color{orangered}{ x^2-x-12 }$.

$$ \left( \color{blue}{x^2-1} \right) \cdot \left( \color{orangered}{x^2-x-12} \right) = x^4-x^3-13x^2+x+12 $$

We can multiply polynomials by using a GRID METHOD

Write one of the polynomials across the top and the other down the left side.

$$ \begin{darray}{|c|c|c|c|}\hline & \color{blue}{x^2} & \color{blue}{-x} & \color{blue}{-12} \\ \hline \color{blue}{x^2} & & & \\ \hline \color{blue}{-1} & & & \\ \hline \end{darray} $$

Fill in each empty box by multiplying the intersecting terms.

$$ \begin{darray}{|c|c|c|c|}\hline & \color{blue}{x^2} & \color{blue}{-x} & \color{blue}{-12} \\ \hline \color{blue}{x^2} & \color{orangered}{x^4} & \color{orangered}{-x^3} & \color{orangered}{-12x^2} \\ \hline \color{blue}{-1} & \color{orangered}{-x^2} & \color{orangered}{x} & \color{orangered}{12} \\ \hline \end{darray} $$

Combine like terms:

$$ x^4-x^3-x^2-12x^2 + x + 12 = \\ x^4-x^3-13x^2+x+12 $$

Polynomial Operations Calculator