What I learned this week is how to expand binomials using a box method and how to check my work with it. I chose to demonstrate my learning in the box method because I didn’t know it was possible to check your work using the method.
After expanding the binomial into the boxes four compartments, you diagonally multiply the two numbers such as the ones highlighted in blue will be 4X x 5X. After multiplying you will be left with two answers and if they are exactly the same as each other such as how my examples answers are both 60×2, that means you have done your expansion correctly and that you answer is right. But if those two answers do not match up then something went wrong.
Using the box method has helped me successfully solve binomials and knowing how to check my work with it means that I will have less mistakes.