Algebra · real student question

Use the FOIL method to multiply the binomials: (4x + 1)(3x + 2).

Question

Use the FOIL method to multiply the binomials:

(4x+1)(3x+2)(4x + 1)(3x + 2)

Step-by-step solution

  1. Understand what FOIL organises. Every term of the first binomial must meet every term of the second. FOIL is just a bookkeeping order for those four products: First, Outer, Inner, Last.

  2. First and Outer. First: 4x3x=12x24x \cdot 3x = 12x^2. Outer: 4x2=8x4x \cdot 2 = 8x.

  3. Inner and Last. Inner: 13x=3x1 \cdot 3x = 3x. Last: 12=21 \cdot 2 = 2.

  4. Combine like terms. Only the two middle products are alike: 8x+3x=11x8x + 3x = 11x. The result is 12x2+11x+212x^2 + 11x + 2.

  5. Check with a test value. At x=1x = 1 the factors give 55=255 \cdot 5 = 25, and the trinomial gives 12+11+2=2512 + 11 + 2 = 25.

Answer

12x2+11x+212x^2 + 11x + 2

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