SOLUTION: I need help on Squaring Binomials. (5a+3b)^2 I'm in homeschool and my parents cant help me so i would appreciate it if you did! Thanks a lot!!!

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Question 70951: I need help on Squaring Binomials. (5a+3b)^2
I'm in homeschool and my parents cant help me so i would appreciate it if you did! Thanks a lot!!!
Answer by bucky(2189) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Remember what it means to square something ... you multiply it by itself. So your problem can be re-written as:
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(5a + 3b)*(5a + 3b)
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Then you can use the FOIL rule which says you multiply the First terms in each set of parentheses. Then you multiply the Outside terms in the set of parentheses. Next you multiply the Inside terms. And finally you multiply the Last terms in each set of parentheses.
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Let's do it.
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The First terms in each set of parentheses are 5a and 5a. When you multiply them together the answer is 25a^2.
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The outside terms are 5a in the first set and 3b in the second set. Multiply them to get 15ab.
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The inside terms are 3b from the first set of parentheses and 5a from the second set of parentheses. Multiply them together and get 15ab.
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Finally, the Last term in the first set of parenthesis is 3b and the Last term in the second set of parentheses is also 3b. Multiply them together to get 9b^2.
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Now add together all 4 of the answers you got ... Firsts, Outsides, Insides, and Lasts (FOIL).
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Notice in this string of four answers the middle two answers both contain "ab" so they can be added together to get 30ab. Substitute 30ab for 15ab + 15ab to get:
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That's the answer to your problem. We used a common way to get it. Now all it takes is practice. Get used to the meaning of FOIL and how to identify what terms are the Firsts, the Outsides, the Insides, and the Lasts. Once you get familiar with the pattern, the procedures will become second nature to you.
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Hope this helps you understand the problem. Good luck with your schooling. Work hard at it and someday your hard work will be rewarded.