www.VirtualNerd.com

How Do You Multiply Binomials Using FOIL?

Find the product of 8x+4 and 2x+5

Summary

  1. Product means multiplication
  2. 8x+4 and 2x+5 are binomials
  3. Use the FOIL method to multiply the two binomials
  4. Multiply the first terms, 8x•2x=16x2
  5. Multiply the outer terms, 8x•5=40x
  6. Multiply the inner terms, 4•2x=8x
  7. Multiply the last terms, 4•5=20
  8. Add the terms together
  9. Combine like terms: 40x+8x=48x

Notes

    1. A binomial is a polynomial with two terms
    1. The first step in FOIL is "FIRST"
    1. First we multiply the first terms in each binomial together
    1. Our FIRST terms are 8x and 2x
    2. Multiplying them gives us 16x2 for our first term
    1. The second step in FOIL is "OUTER"
    1. Next we multiply the outer terms of the binomials together
    1. Our OUTER terms are 8x and 5
    2. Multiplying them gives us 40x for our second term
    1. The third step in FOIL is "INNER"
    1. Next we multiply the inner terms of the binomials together
    1. Our INNER terms are 4 and 2x
    2. Multiplying them gives us 8x for our third term
    1. The fourth step in FOIL is "LAST"
    1. Finally we multiply the last terms of each binomial together
    1. Our LAST terms are 4 and 5
    2. Multiplying them gives us 20 for our fourth term
    1. We can simplify our polynomial by combining like terms
    1. 40x and 8x are like terms because they both have x raised to the first power
    2. We can add them together to get 48x
    1. This is the product of the binomials 8x+4 and 2x+5