We can multiply polynomials by using a GRID METHOD
Write one of the polynomials across the top and the other down the left side.
$$ \begin{darray}{|c|c|c|c|}\hline & \color{blue}{x^2} & \color{blue}{7x} & \color{blue}{2} \\ \hline \color{blue}{x} & & & \\ \hline \color{blue}{-2} & & & \\ \hline \end{darray} $$Fill in each empty box by multiplying the intersecting terms.
$$ \begin{darray}{|c|c|c|c|}\hline & \color{blue}{x^2} & \color{blue}{7x} & \color{blue}{2} \\ \hline \color{blue}{x} & \color{orangered}{x^3} & \color{orangered}{7x^2} & \color{orangered}{2x} \\ \hline \color{blue}{-2} & \color{orangered}{-2x^2} & \color{orangered}{-14x} & \color{orangered}{-4} \\ \hline \end{darray} $$Combine like terms:
$$ x^3 + 7x^2-2x^2 + 2x-14x-4 = \\ x^3+5x^2-12x-4 $$