Question

(3m 3 - y )(3m 3 - y )

Answer 1

\((3m^3 - y)(3m^3 - y) \)

Is this the problem?
Do you need to muiltiply it together?

Answer 2

To multiply, use FOIL, or simply multiply each term of the first binomial by each term of the second binomial, and then combine like terms.

Answer 3

FOIL doesn't exist. Just learn to multiply.

If you can multiply this, 34 * 56, by hand, then you can multiply (a+b)(c+d). It is EXATLY the same thing. No one thinks 34 * 56 requires "FOIL".

Answer 4

I agree that FOIL is not necessary, but it helps many students.
Among polynomial multiplication, multiplication of two binomials is very common, especially in the early stages of learning multiplication of polynomials. There is nothing wrong with using a mnemonic to remind a student to do all 4 required multiplications in the multiplication of two binomials. As the student's skills improve, then he can think of the more general case of multiplication of two polynomials by multiplying every term of one polynomial by every term of the other polynomial.