This week we mainly worked on multiplying simple binomials. Learning this is important because it is what the polynomial units in Grade 11 and Grade 12 will be built upon.
Here is an example of a multiplication question with 1 monomial and 1 binomial. We can use many different methods to solve this question, and I will use 2 different methods.
Distributive Method
- Now, there are a lot of ways to do this, but I’m going to do this the way that I find gets me the right answer the most times. Since the expression within the brackets is squared, I’ll just write out this part of the expression first.
- I’m going to go ahead and solve this part by using the FOIL (First, Outside, Inside, Last) Method. After doing this, I’m going to combine the like terms and rewrite it again with the original number before the brackets.
- After rewriting it, I’m going to use the FOIL method yet again to distribute. The answer you get at the end is your result. This is just one of the ways to solve an expression like this.
Area Model
- Start off with writing the squared part of the expression beside each block in the model. Next, multiply the numbers on the vertical side to the numbers on the horizontal side. Place the answers in the boxes.
- Repeat this step but place 5 beside the 1 vertical side. We will have to
change how long the box is.
3. Now you’re finished! We just checked if the answer to the distributive method was right, and it was. This is just a couple of ways of how to simplify an expression like this.