Question

Can someone help me understand the foil method ?

Answer 1

do you know what FOIL stands for?

Answer 2

first, outer, inner, last some where in the middle i'm missing an operation

Answer 3

right. so multiply the first terms=> multiply the outer terms => multiply the inenr terms => multiply the last terms => add them all up

Answer 4

for example

(1 + 2)(3 + 4)

F = (1 x 3)
O = (1 x 4)
I = (2 x 3)
L = (2 x 4)

right?

Answer 5

right

Answer 6

so if i simplify those

F = 3
O = 4
I = 6
L = 8

if you add all those up

3 + 4 + 6 + 8 = 21

Answer 7

now..to show you that's right...i'll do this the PEMDAS way

(1 + 2)(3 + 4)

(3)(7)

21

Answer 8

see?

Answer 9

ooooo ok

Answer 10

but of course..you use FOIL in algebra not arithmetic....i just used numbers to easily show you how it's done

Answer 11

let me try algebra

(x + 1)(x - 2)

F = (x)(x)
O = (x)(-2)
I = (1)(x)
L = (1)(-2)

if i simplify those

F = x^2
O = -2x
I = x
L = -2

if i add all of those up

x^2 - 2x + x - 2

if i combine the like terms

x^2 - x - 2

Answer 12

correct, i was looking for one of my problems in my notebook , right exactly like your example

Answer 13

that's because i'm your teacher

Answer 14

ok

Answer 15

anyway, joking aside. did you get my explanation?

Answer 16

So i would line it up first row / second row ???

Answer 17

ahh you mean like this

x^2 - 2x
+ x - 2
========
x^2 - x - 2

Answer 18

yes i was trying to do just that and it wasn't working for me ( lining up that is) but that' exactly what i mean thanks

Answer 19

why would set #2 (outer) be -2x and not x-2 ??

Answer 20

(x)(-2) that is x multiplied to -2 not x - 2

if you multiply a number and a letter, you just stick them to one another

so x multiplied to -2 is -2x

Answer 21

ahhhhhhh ok.......

Answer 22

(x^2)^5
______
x^2 x^4

Answer 23

here i would multiply the exponents (x^2)^5 = x^10 ; x^2 x^4 = x^6 (total answer x^4) that was an easy one...

Answer 24

right

Answer 25

(7y^0 8^4)^3
_____________
(2g^2)^4

Answer 26

variable can not be raised to zero, therefore it must be changed to 1 ??

Answer 27

right. y^0 = 1

Answer 28

i'm a little stuck will try it

Answer 29

(7^1 8^4)3 (7^3 8^12
--------- _____________
(2g2)^4 ????? 2g^8

Answer 30

you raise 2 to 4 too

Answer 31

(2g2)^4 = 8g^8 ????

Answer 32

you raise 2 to 4 not multiply it

Answer 33

6

Answer 34

raise means 2^4

Answer 35

=16

Answer 36

yes

Answer 37

trying to see where i went wrong with this problem

Answer 38

got it ! the first two has to be raised as well

Answer 39

thank you for your assistance really appreciate it....

Answer 40

welcome