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Media4Math  Expanding the Product of Binomials Using FOIL

FOIL

In this example, the FOIL method is used with two binomials that include subtraction and both x-terms have coefficients that are not equal to 1.

Review of the FOIL method:

In this set of Math Tutorials the FOIL method is used find the product of two binomials. We look at the products of binomials of the following form:

(x + a)(x + b)

(ax + b)(x + c)

(ax + b)(cx + d)

In these binomials, the terms a, b, c, and d are constants.

The FOIL method is a systematic way to find the product of two binomials. The term FOIL is an acronym for the method:

F – The product of the first terms in each binomial.

O – The product of the outside terms.

I – The product of the inside terms.

L – The product of the last terms.

These products result in four terms that can be further combined to create the expanded form of the product of the two binomials, in simplified form.

In using the FOIL method, make sure you are familiar with multiplying variable expressions. Using FOIL results in the products of two constants, two x-terms, and a constant and an x-term.

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