FOIL method in Mathematics

The FOIL method in mathematics is used to multiply two binomials. It is a method of distribution of terms over parenthesis when there are two terms in each parenthesis.

Binomials in mathematics are algebraic expressions having two terms. For example (2x + 3) and (4x + 4) are two binomials. Multiplication of two binomials is done using the FOIL method.

FOIL means First Outside Inside Last. Two binomials are multiplied by multiplying together their first two terms respectively, then multiplying together their outside two terms respectively, then multiplying together their two inside terms respectively, and then multiplying together their last two terms respectively. After that, the four products obtained above are added to get the result.

For example, in the two binomials (2x + 3) and (4x + 4), the first two terms are 2x and 4x, the two outside terms are 2x and 4, the two inside terms are 3 and 4x and the two last terms are 3 and 4 respectively. Their products are as follows:

Product of first two terms = 2x * 4x = 8x^2
Product of two outside terms = 2x * 4 = 8x
Product of two inside terms = 3 * 4x = 12x
Product of two last terms = 3 * 4 = 12

Then adding all the products obtained above, we get 8x^2 + 8x + 12x + 12 = 8x^2 + 20x + 12.

Therefore we used the FOIL method to get the following result:
(2x + 3)(4x + 4) =  8x^2 + 20x + 12

Remember that FOIL means First, Outside, Inside and Last. 

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