If you’re having a bit of difficulty successfully multiplying two different binomials, continue reading to discover a handy little definition, that you’ll find easy to remember.
What are binomials?
If you’re a bit confused by the mathematics term binomials, the term refers to a polynomial, which features not one but two terms. An example of a basic binomial is 3 x squared + 2.
What is the foil method definition:
The foil method is actually a handy acronym, that you can use in order to recall the correct order for multiplying different binomials. As in order to get accurate results, you’ll need to perform each step in the correct order. If you remember using the acronym BEDMAS in order to solve algebraic equations in high school, you’ll love the foil acronym, which works the same way.
What does each letter in the foil method definition stand for?
The letter f in the foil method stands for first, which means that you should start of multiplying your binomials by multiplying your first terms.
Next up, the letter o, in the method refers to outer and reminds you to multiply your outer terms, as your second move.
Your third letter, letter i refers to the word inner and reminds you to multiply your inner terms, as your third move in your equation.
Lastly the last letter in the world foil is l and stands for last. Lastly, make sure to multiply your last terms, in order to complete your equation.
An example to experiment with:
If you want to try out using the foil defintion use the easy example of (a+b) (c+d). In this example, your first terms are a and c. Your outer terms are a and d, your inner terms are b and c and lastly your last terms are b and d.
So if you have an example of terms and you’re not sure about how to get started, it’s well worth writing down your example’s terms and matching them up with (a+b) (c+d) equation above and using the foil definition to complete your equations.
Extra tips on multiplying polynomials:
When you’re multiplying polynomials, you’ll be required to multiply each of your terms in one polynomial by the other terms in your second polynomial. If you feel overwhelmed, don’t worry as you can always make your life a little simpler by adding together your answers in order to simplify your equations.
If you’re looking to multiply a single polynomial by another single single polynomial, simply multiply your equation’s constants by its variables, in order to get the answer to your equation.
In such equations its common to use a . instead of the symbol x, too multiply and x looks too much like the multiplication symbol.
In conclusion:
So next time that you’re tasked with multiplying two binomials, if you forget which terms to multiply first, just remember the simple acronym FOIL and you’ll soon be reminded of the correct order of terms which you should multiply. As you’ll be sure to find the right answer and to be able to answer your equation successfully and without any hassles, you might also want to understand what does corresponding mean.