Polynomial Multiplication including Binomial Multiplication

Polynomial Multiplication including Binomial Multiplication

This video explains how to multiply polynomials. Many students learn the acronym "FOIL," which prescribes the first, outer, inner, last order for multiplying terms in two binomials. Whereas this may be very efficient and easy to remember, FOIL falls apart when using polynomials that have more or fewer than two terms each. Other methods, such as treating all problems as distributing problems, and/or using the area model, will work 100% of the time and will reinforce previously learned strategies.

Some terms used in this video are:

Binomial: A two-term expression.
Polynomial: A multi-term expression, commonly used when there are three or more terms.
Area model: Using rectangles and their areas to illustrate multiplication.
Distribute: Multiplying each term by every other term in the problem.

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