Vertical and FOIL Methods for Multiplying Two Binomials

Learning Outcomes

Use the FOIL method to multiply two binomials
Use the vertical method to multiply two binomials

Remember that when you multiply a binomial by a binomial you get four terms. Sometimes you can combine like terms to get a trinomial, but sometimes there are no like terms to combine. Let's look at the last example again and pay particular attention to how we got the four terms.

\left(x+2\right)\left(x-y\right)

{x}^{2}-\mathit{\text{xy}}+2x - 2y

Where did the first term,

{x}^{2}

, come from? It is the product of

x\mathit{\text{ and }}x

, the first terms in

\left(x+2\right)\text{and}\left(x-y\right)

Parentheses x plus 2 times parentheses x minus y is shown. There is a red arrow from the first x to the second. Beside this,

The next term,

-\mathit{\text{xy}}

, is the product of

x\text{ and }-y

, the two outer terms. Parentheses x plus 2 times parentheses x minus y is shown. There is a black arrow from the first x to the second x. There is a red arrow from the first x to the y. Beside this,

Parentheses x plus 2 times parentheses x minus y is shown. There is a black arrow from the first x to the second x. There is a red arrow from the first x to the y. Beside this,

The third term,

+2x

, is the product of

2\text{ and }x

, the two inner terms. Parentheses x plus 2 times parentheses x minus y is shown. There is a black arrow from the first x to the second x. There is a black arrow from the first x to the y. There is a red arrow from the 2 to the x. Below that,

Parentheses x plus 2 times parentheses x minus y is shown. There is a black arrow from the first x to the second x. There is a black arrow from the first x to the y. There is a red arrow from the 2 to the x. Below that,

And the last term,

-2y

, came from multiplying the two last terms. Parentheses x plus 2 times parentheses x minus y is shown. There is a black arrow from the first x to the second x. There is a black arrow from the first x to the y. There is a black arrow from the 2 to the x. There is a red arrow from the 2 to the y. Above that,

We abbreviate "First, Outer, Inner, Last" as FOIL. The letters stand for ‘First, Outer, Inner, Last’. The word FOIL is easy to remember and ensures we find all four products. We might say we use the FOIL method to multiply two binomials. Parentheses a plus b times parentheses c plus d is shown. Above a is first, above b is last, above c is first, above d is last. There is a brace connecting a and d that says outer. There is a brace connecting b and c that says inner.

Parentheses a plus b times parentheses c plus d is shown. Above a is first, above b is last, above c is first, above d is last. There is a brace connecting a and d that says outer. There is a brace connecting b and c that says inner.

Let's look at

\left(x+3\right)\left(x+7\right)

again. Now we will work through an example where we use the FOIL pattern to multiply two binomials.

example

Multiply using the FOIL method:

\left(x+6\right)\left(x+9\right)

. Solution

Step 1: Multiply the First terms.
Step 2: Multiply the Outer terms.
Step 3: Multiply the Inner terms.
Step 4: Multiply the Last terms.
Step 5: Combine like terms, when possible.	$x^2+15x+54$

try it

[ohm_question]146211[/ohm_question]

We summarize the steps of the FOIL method below. The FOIL method only applies to multiplying binomials, not other polynomials!

Use the FOIL method for multiplying two binomials

Multiply the First terms.
Multiply the Outer terms.
Multiply the Inner terms.
Multiply the Last terms.
Combine like terms, when possible.

example

Multiply:

\left(y - 8\right)\left(y+6\right)

Answer: Solution

Step 1: Multiply the First terms.
Step 2: Multiply the Outer terms.
Step 3: Multiply the Inner terms.
Step 4: Multiply the Last terms.
Step 5: Combine like terms	$y^2-2y-48$

try it

[ohm_question]146212[/ohm_question]

example

Multiply:

\left(2a+3\right)\left(3a - 1\right)

Answer: Solution

	$(2a+3)(3a-1)$

Multiply the First terms.
Multiply the Outer terms.
Multiply the Inner terms.
Multiply the Last terms.
Combine like terms.	$6a^2+7a-3$

try it

[ohm_question]146213[/ohm_question]

example

Multiply:

\left(5x-y\right)\left(2x - 7\right)

Answer: Solution

	$(5x-y)(2x-7)$

Multiply the First terms.
Multiply the Outer terms.
Multiply the Inner terms.
Multiply the Last terms.
Combine like terms. There are none.	$10x^2-35x-2xy\color{red}{+7y}$

try it

[ohm_question]146215[/ohm_question]

For another example of using the FOIL method to multiply two binomials watch the next video. https://youtu.be/0HzsAjucUaw

Multiplying Two Binomials Using the Vertical Method

The FOIL method is usually the quickest method for multiplying two binomials, but it works only for binomials. You can use the Distributive Property to find the product of any two polynomials. Another method that works for all polynomials is the Vertical Method. It is very much like the method you use to multiply whole numbers. Look carefully at this example of multiplying two-digit numbers. A vertical multiplication problem is shown. 23 times 46 is written with a line underneath. Beneath the line is 138. Beside 138 is written

A vertical multiplication problem is shown. 23 times 46 is written with a line underneath. Beneath the line is 138. Beside 138 is written

You start by multiplying

23

6

to get

138

. Then you multiply

23

4

, lining up the partial product in the correct columns. Last, you add the partial products. Now we'll apply this same method to multiply two binomials.

example

Multiply using the vertical method:

\left(5x - 1\right)\left(2x - 7\right)

. Solution It does not matter which binomial goes on the top. Line up the columns when you multiply as we did when we multiplied

23\left(46\right)


Multiply $2x - 7$ by $-1$ .
Multiply $2x - 7$ by $5x$ .
Add like terms.

Notice the partial products are the same as the terms in the FOIL method.

On the left, 5x minus 1 times 2x minus 7 is shown. Below that is 10 x squared minus 35x minus 2x plus 7. The first two terms are in blue, the second two in red. Beneath that is 10 x squared minus 37x plus 7. On the right, a vertical multiplication problem is shown. 2xx minus 7 times 5x minus 1 is written with a line underneath. Beneath the line is a red negative 2x plus 7. Beneath that is 10 x squared minus 35 x in blue. Beneath that, there is another line. Beneath that line is 10 x squared minus 37x plus 7.

try it

[ohm_question]146216[/ohm_question]

We have now used three methods for multiplying binomials. Be sure to practice each method, and try to decide which one you prefer. The three methods are listed here to help you remember them.

Multiplying Two Binomials

To multiply binomials, use the:

Distributive Property
FOIL Method
Vertical Method

Remember, FOIL only works when multiplying two binomials.

Vertical and FOIL Methods for Multiplying Two Binomials

Learning Outcomes

example

try it

Use the FOIL method for multiplying two binomials

example

try it

example

try it

example

try it

Multiplying Two Binomials Using the Vertical Method

example

try it

Multiplying Two Binomials

Licenses & Attributions

CC licensed content, Original

CC licensed content, Shared previously

CC licensed content, Specific attribution

Study Guides > Prealgebra

Vertical and FOIL Methods for Multiplying Two Binomials

Learning Outcomes

example

try it

Use the FOIL method for multiplying two binomials

example

try it

example

try it

example

try it

Multiplying Two Binomials Using the Vertical Method

example

try it

Multiplying Two Binomials

Licenses & Attributions

CC licensed content, Original

CC licensed content, Shared previously

CC licensed content, Specific attribution