Q 284 - Intermediate Algebra

Question

Which method do you prefer to use when multiplying two binomials: the Distributive Property or the FOIL method? Why? Which method do you prefer to use when multiplying a polynomial by a polynomial: the Distributive Property or the Vertical Method? Why?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

For multiplying two binomials FOIL method is used.

For multiplying a polynomial the Distributive property must be used.

Step 1 . Given information.

Which method do you prefer to use when multiplying two binomials: the distributive property or the FOIL method.

Step 2.

The FOIL method is usually the quickest method for multiplying two binomials, but it works only for binomials.

The FOIL method lets us multiply binomial in a particular order. The letter in FOIL refers to two terms (one from each of the two binomials) multiplied together in a certain order: First, Outer, Inner, and Last

Step 3. Which method do you prefer to use when multiplying a polynomial: the distributive property or the Vertical method? Why?

When multiplying a polynomial by a polynomial the distributive property must be used because the distributive property allows us to multiply each term of the first polynomial by each term of the second. We then add the products together and combine like terms to simplify.