What is the smallest number of chickens that can walk in this formation: two chickens in front of a chicken, two chickens behind a chicken, and a chicken between two chickens?

5 chickens

Step-by-step explanation:

Allow the X to represent the chicken formation:

XX (in front)

X (between)

XX (behind)

step-by-step explanation:

hello from mrbilldoesmath!

answer:   x (x+6)^2, choice b

discussion:

factor x out of the equation:

x^3 + 12x^2 + 36x = x (x^2 + 12x + 36).

note that 6+6 = 12 and 6*6 = 36 so the above factors into:

x (x+6)^2

which is choice b

you,

mrb