Lesson FOIL Method for Middle Schoolers

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About Spearmint: Any Small Levels of Math for Elementary and Middle School Users

Lets start out with a simpler problem...FOIL only works for binomials.

(3x^2+5)(2x^2-6)

F= Is For First Terms of Each Problem, in this case, F-6x^4, because you multiply 3x times 2x and get 6x.  You then add the exponents in a multiplication problem, such as exponentials 2+2.  You then get 6x^4

O= Is for the outer termsof each binomial.  In this case, O- -18x^2, doing as if what you did in F.

I= Is for the inner terms in each binomial.  In this case, I- 10x^2...getting it?

L= Is for the last terms of each binmoial.  In this case, L- -30.

put all the terms together, 6x^4-18x^2+10x^2-30

add all like terms, in this case, the like terms are -18x^2 and 10x^2.  The equal terms are -8x^2.

now put the terms together, and you have: 6x^4-8x^2-30.

now you have your answer, it is 6x^4-8x^2-30.

GOOD JOB IF YOU UNDERSTOOD IT!!

if not, i can post another example later.

such as:

(9t+12)(12t-18)

F= equals....first terms...first terms are 9t and 12t equaling 108t^2 when multiplying.

O= equals....outer terms....outer terms are 9t and -18 equaling to -162t.

I= equals....inner terms....inner terms are 12 and 12t equaling to 144t.

L= equals....last terms.....last terms are 12 and -18 equaling to -216.

108t^2-162t+144t-216.

add like terms, like terms are -162t and 144t.

those equal up to -18 t.

end of the problem is 108t^2-18t-216.

more examples, will post later.