Algebra · real student question

Find the product (3x^2 + 4xy + 5y^2)(7x^2 + 9y^2), writing the multiplication horizontally.

Question

Find the product, writing the multiplication horizontally:

(3x2+4xy+5y2)(7x2+9y2)(3x^2+4xy+5y^2)(7x^2+9y^2)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Notice the structure. Both factors are homogeneous — every term of the first has total degree 22 and every term of the second has total degree 22 — so every partial product has total degree 44. That makes x4, x3y, x2y2, xy3, y4x^4,\ x^3y,\ x^2y^2,\ xy^3,\ y^4 the only possible slots and gives a useful self-check.

  2. Distribute the trinomial's terms across 7x27x^2. 3x27x2=21x43x^2\cdot 7x^2=21x^4, 4xy7x2=28x3y4xy\cdot 7x^2=28x^3y, and 5y27x2=35x2y25y^2\cdot 7x^2=35x^2y^2.

  3. Distribute across 9y29y^2. 3x29y2=27x2y23x^2\cdot 9y^2=27x^2y^2, 4xy9y2=36xy34xy\cdot 9y^2=36xy^3, and 5y29y2=45y45y^2\cdot 9y^2=45y^4.

  4. Group the six monomials by pattern. 21x421x^4 and 28x3y28x^3y and 36xy336xy^3 and 45y445y^4 each stand alone; the two x2y2x^2y^2 terms are 35x2y235x^2y^2 and 27x2y227x^2y^2.

  5. Combine and write the answer in descending powers of xx. 35x2y2+27x2y2=62x2y235x^2y^2+27x^2y^2=62x^2y^2, giving 21x4+28x3y+62x2y2+36xy3+45y421x^4+28x^3y+62x^2y^2+36xy^3+45y^4.

  6. Verify at two points. At x=y=1x=y=1: (3+4+5)(7+9)=1216=192(3+4+5)(7+9)=12\cdot 16=192 and 21+28+62+36+45=19221+28+62+36+45=192. At x=2,y=1x=2,y=-1: (128+5)(28+9)=937=333(12-8+5)(28+9)=9\cdot 37=333 and 336224+24872+45=333336-224+248-72+45=333.

Answer

21x4+28x3y+62x2y2+36xy3+45y421x^4+28x^3y+62x^2y^2+36xy^3+45y^4

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