What is the FOIL method used for?

What is the FOIL method used for?

• A. To factor polynomials.
• B. To simplify expressions.
• C. To add fractions.
• D. To multiply two binomials.

Answer: (D)

FOIL is a shortcut for multiplying two binomials by handling the four products that come from multiplying each term in the first binomial by each term in the second: First terms, Outer terms, Inner terms, and Last terms. After finding those four products, you combine like terms to get the final expression. For example, (3x + 2)(x − 5) becomes 3x·x + 3x·(−5) + 2·x + 2·(−5) = 3x^2 − 15x + 2x − 10, which simplifies to 3x^2 − 13x − 10. Another example: (x + 4)(x + 7) = x^2 + 7x + 4x + 28 = x^2 + 11x + 28. This method is specifically for multiplying two binomials, not for factoring, adding fractions, or general simplification.

FOIL is a shortcut for multiplying two binomials by handling the four products that come from multiplying each term in the first binomial by each term in the second: First terms, Outer terms, Inner terms, and Last terms. After finding those four products, you combine like terms to get the final expression. For example, (3x + 2)(x − 5) becomes 3x·x + 3x·(−5) + 2·x + 2·(−5) = 3x^2 − 15x + 2x − 10, which simplifies to 3x^2 − 13x − 10. Another example: (x + 4)(x + 7) = x^2 + 7x + 4x + 28 = x^2 + 11x + 28. This method is specifically for multiplying two binomials, not for factoring, adding fractions, or general simplification.