Difference between revisions of "FOIL"

 
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<cmath>(a+b)(c+d) = ac + ad + bc + bd</cmath>
 
<cmath>(a+b)(c+d) = ac + ad + bc + bd</cmath>
  
Here are a few examples.
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Here is an example.
  
 
<cmath>(5x + 3)(2x - 6)</cmath>
 
<cmath>(5x + 3)(2x - 6)</cmath>
  
First we multiply the first terms, <cmath>5x</cmath> and <cmath>2x</cmath>, yielding <cmath>10x^2</cmath>.
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First we multiply the first terms <cmath>5x \times 2x = 10x^2</cmath>  
  
Then, the outside terms, <cmath>5x</cmath> and <cmath>-6</cmath>, giving us <cmath>-30x</cmath>.
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Then, the outside terms <cmath>5x \times -6 = -30x</cmath>
  
Next, the inside terms, <cmath>3</cmath> and <cmath>2x</cmath>, which is <cmath>6x</cmath>.
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Next, the inside terms <cmath>3 \times 2x = 6x</cmath>.
  
Finally, we multiply the last terms, <cmath>-6</cmath> and <cmath>3</cmath>, which is <cmath>-18</cmath>.
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Finally, we multiply the last terms <cmath>-6 \times 3 = -18</cmath>
  
 
Thus, our answer is <cmath>10x^2 - 30x + 6x - 18</cmath>, which, when simplified, gives us a final answer of <cmath>\boxed{10x^2 - 24x - 18}</cmath>.  
 
Thus, our answer is <cmath>10x^2 - 30x + 6x - 18</cmath>, which, when simplified, gives us a final answer of <cmath>\boxed{10x^2 - 24x - 18}</cmath>.  
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*[[Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick]]
 
*[[Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick]]
  
[[Category:Elementary algebra]]
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[[Category:Algebra]]
 
 
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Latest revision as of 12:34, 14 July 2021

FOIL, standing for first, outside, inside, last, is a mnemonic device for remembering the distributive property when two binomials are multiplied.

\[(a+b)(c+d) = ac + ad + bc + bd\]

Here is an example.

\[(5x + 3)(2x - 6)\]

First we multiply the first terms \[5x \times 2x = 10x^2\]

Then, the outside terms \[5x \times -6 = -30x\]

Next, the inside terms \[3 \times 2x = 6x\].

Finally, we multiply the last terms \[-6 \times 3 = -18\]

Thus, our answer is \[10x^2 - 30x + 6x - 18\], which, when simplified, gives us a final answer of \[\boxed{10x^2 - 24x - 18}\].

See also