Expanding 2 binomials using algebra tiles:

 (red is negative, other colors are positive)

By using algebra and distributive property we are able to figure out the expansion of two binomials. For example (x – 1) (x + 2), we have to know that multiplying 2 x’s will give us and that a negative will come out on top when facing a positive. Using distributive property we expanded the expression to + 2x – x – 2. From here we simplify by combining like terms which gives us the product of the two binomials in simplest form, + x – 2.

Factoring a trinomial:

 (red is negative, other colors are positive)

When factoring a trinomial you need to remember that 2 x’s make , +/- 1 times a x will give you x, 2 negatives or positives will make a positive, and that 1 of each (+/-) will give you a negative. When we factor a trinomial we have to work backwards, so we solve by factoring out 2 x’s and we solve x’s by factoring out 1 x and one 1.