Algebra Practice Test 2026 – Complete Exam Preparation

The expanded form of the expression (x - 5)² involves applying the formula for squaring a binomial, which states that (a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b². Here, 'a' is represented by 'x' and 'b' is represented by '5'.

1. Starting with the first term, a² becomes x².

2. The second term is -2ab, which translates to -2 times x times 5. This gives us -10x.

3. The last term is b², which is 5². This results in a positive 25.

Putting all these together, the expression expands to x² - 10x + 25. This reveals the correct expanded form, capturing the essence of how the distribution of the terms works when squared.

The other options do not align with this expansion. For instance, the presence of a positive 10x or the different terms entirely suggests a misunderstanding of the squaring process or incorrect arithmetic in handling the binomial.