ADD the F.O.I.L. METHOD to your Basic Algebra Toolbox

TabletClass Math:


Math Notes:

[petergreenwald]

Frankly I found it interesting and I think he made it quite clear where this method would apply.

[Tony]

Alright normally I like this guy's channel because he does give some good tips but STOP using FOIL or teaching it. Let me explain why.

FOIL(First, Outer, Inner, Last) is great for multiplying (x+a)(y+b) type questions involving binominals. HOWEVER, when you teach FOIL and then you show a kid something like (x+3)(x^2+5x+2) they freak out. Why? Because they only know this one trick seeing something new like this will scare them because they will be so used to following a prescribed formula, they won't know what the hell to do.

What you need to do is teach them exactly what you're doing. Take the first part of the first term, multiply by every part in the second term, then do the same for the second and third and so on. The Hippity hop method is what I like to call it. It can be used from anything from simple distribution, to binominals, trinomials and larger polynomials.

So please for the love of God stop teaching FOIL, it's a cute trick which is LOVELY, but it's only designed for one type of problem.