# Algebra 1 : How to use FOIL in the distributive property

## Example Questions

### Example Question #21 : Distributive Property

Distribute

Explanation:

To distribute two factors, you will use FOIL method: first, outer, inner, last.

You start by multiplying the first terms together:

.

Then, you multiply the outer terms of each factor:

.

Then, you multiply the inner terms of each factor:

Lastly, you multiply the last terms of each factor:

.

Combine like terms: .

And you are left with .

### Example Question #21 : How To Use Foil In The Distributive Property

Explanation:
:


### Example Question #21 : Distributive Property

Simplify the following expression using the FOIL method:

Explanation:

Using the FOIL method is simple. FOIL stands for First, Outside, Inside, Last. This is to help us make sure we multiply every term correctly looking at the terms inside of each parentheses. We follow FOIL to find the multiplied terms, then combine and simplify.

First, stands for multiply each first term of the seperate polynomials. In this case,

Inner means we multiply the two inner terms of the expression. Here it's .

Outer means multiplying the two outer terms of the expression. For this expression we have .

Last stands for multiplying the last terms of the polynomials. So here it's .

Finally we combine the like terms together to get

.

### Example Question #22 : Distributive Property

Simplify the equation.

Explanation:

The distributive property allows us to transfer a term from outside the parenthesis to each term within the parenthesis.

From our original equation, , , and .

Simplify by multiplication.

### Example Question #22 : How To Use Foil In The Distributive Property

FOIL the following expression.

Explanation:

This problem involves multiplying two binomials. To solve, we will need to use the FOIL method.

Comparing this with our original equation, , , , and .

Using these values, we can substitute for the FOIL equation.

Notice that the two center terms use the same variables; this allows us to combine like terms.

### Example Question #1 : Foil

FOIL the expression.

Explanation:

To solve, it may be easier to convert the radicals to exponents.

Remember, the method used in multiplying two binomials is given by the equation:

Comparing this with our expression, we can identify the following variables:

We can substitute these values into the FOIL expression. Multiply to simplify.

Simplify by combining like terms. The center terms are equal and opposite, allowing them to cancel to zero.

A term to a given power can be combined with another term with the same base using the identity . This allows us to adjust our final answer.

### Example Question #21 : Distributive Property

Expand:

Explanation:

To expand the equation, you can use the FOIL method, which distributively multiplies each individual term within both binomials. This gives you , or .

### Example Question #21 : Distributive Property

Simplify the following using the distributive property:

Explanation:

The first step is to distribute (multiply) the through the the parentheses. Multiplying a positive and negative number together results in a negative number, while multiplying two negative numbers results in a positive number:

The next step is to combine the two like terms that have the variable :

This cannot be simplified further and is the correct answer.

### Example Question #22 : Distributive Property

Simplify .

Explanation:

This problem can be solved using the FOIL method.  We first multiply the first terms, then the outside terms, then the inside terms, then the last terms.  Doing this, we get:

### Example Question #24 : Distributive Property

Expand and combine like terms.

Explanation:

Using the FOIL distribution method:

First:

Outer:

Inner:

Last:

Resulting in:

Combining like terms, the 's cancel for a final answer of: