5.4: Multiplying Polynomials
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- Multiply a polynomial by a monomial.
- Multiply a polynomial by a binomial.
- Multiply a polynomial by any size polynomial.
- Recognize and calculate special products.
- Multiply polynomial functions.
Multiplying by a Monomial
Recall the product rule for exponents: if m and n are positive integers, then
xm⋅xn=xm+n
In other words, when multiplying two expressions with the same base, add the exponents. This rule applies when multiplying a monomial by a monomial. To find the product of monomials, multiply the coefficients and add the exponents of variable factors with the same base. For example,
3x⋅5x2=3⋅5⋅x1⋅x2Commutativeproperty=15x1+2Productruleforexponents=15x3
To multiply a polynomial by a monomial, apply the distributive property and then simplify each term.
Multiply:
−5x(4x−2).
Solution:
In this case, multiply the monomial, −5x, by the binomial, 4x−2. Apply the distributive property and then simplify.
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Answer:
−20x2+10x
Multiply:
2x2(3x2−5x+1).
Solution:
Apply the distributive property and then simplify.
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Answer:
6x4−10x3+2x2
Multiply:
−3ab2(a2b3+2a3b−6ab−4).
Solution:
Answer:
To summarize, multiplying a polynomial by a monomial involves the distributive property and the product rule for exponents. Multiply all of the terms of the polynomial by the monomial. For each term, multiply the coefficients and add exponents of variables where the bases are the same.
Multiply:
−5x2y(2xy2−3xy+6x2y−1).
- Answer
-
−10x3y3+15x3y2−30x4y2+5x2y
Multiplying by a Binomial
In the same way that we used the distributive property to find the product of a monomial and a binomial, we will use it to find the product of two binomials.
(a+b)(c+d)=(a+b)⋅c+(a+b)⋅d=ac+bc+ad+bd=ac+ad+bc+bd
Here we apply the distributive property multiple times to produce the final result. This same result is obtained in one step if we apply the distributive property to a and b separately as follows:
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This is often called the FOIL method. We add the products of the first terms of each binomial ac, the outer terms ad, the inner terms bc, and finally the last terms bd. This mnemonic device only works for products of binomials; hence it is best to just remember that the distributive property applies.
Multiply:
(2x+3)(5x−2).
Solution:
Distribute 2x and then distribute 3.
Simplify by combining like terms.
=10x2+11x−6
Answer:
10x2+11x−6
Multiply:
(12x−14)(12x+14).
Solution:
Distribute 12x and then distribute −14.
(12x−14)(12x+14)=12x12x+12x⋅14+(−14)⋅12x+(−14)⋅14=14x2+18x−18x−116=14x2−116
Answer:
14x2−116
Multiply:
(3y2−1)(2y+1).
Solution:
Answer:
6y3+3y2−2y−1
After applying the distributive property, combine any like terms.
Multiply:
(x2−5)(3x2−2x+2).
Solution:
After multiplying each term of the trinomial by x2 and −5, simplify.
Answer:
3x4−2x3−13x2+10x−10
Multiply:
(2x−1)3.
Solution:
Perform one product at a time.
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Answer:
8x3−12x2+6x−1
At this point, it is worth pointing out a common mistake:
(2x−1)3≠(2x)3−(1)3
The confusion comes from the product to a power rule of exponents, where we apply the power to all factors. Since there are two terms within the parentheses, that rule does not apply. Care should be taken to understand what is different in the following two examples:
(xy)2=x2y2✓(x+y)2≠x2+y2x
Multiply:
(2x−3)(7x2−5x+4).
- Answer
-
14x3−31x2+23x−12
Product of Polynomials
When multiplying polynomials, we apply the distributive property many times. Multiply all of the terms of each polynomial and then combine like terms.
Multiply:
(2x2+x−3)(x2−2x+5).
Solution:
Multiply each term of the first trinomial by each term of the second trinomial and then combine like terms.
Aligning like terms in columns, as we have here, aids in the simplification process
Answer:
2x4−3x3+5x2+11x−15
Notice that when multiplying a trinomial by a trinomial, we obtain nine terms before simplifying. In fact, when multiplying an n-term polynomial by an m-term polynomial, we will obtain n×m terms. In the previous example, we were asked to multiply and found that
(2x2+x−3)(x2−2x+5)=2x4−3x3+5x2+11x−15
Because it is easy to make a small calculation error, it is a good practice to trace through the steps mentally to verify that the operations were performed correctly. Alternatively, we can check by evaluating any value for x in both expressions to verify that the results are the same. Here we choose x=2:
(2x2+x−3)(x2−2x+5)=(2(2)2+(2)−3)((2)2−2(2)+5)=(8+2−3)(4−4+5)=(7)(5)=35
Because the results could coincidentally be the same, a check by evaluating does not necessarily prove that we have multiplied correctly. However, after verifying a few values, we can be fairly confident that the product is correct.
Exercise 5.4.3
Multiply:
(x2−2x−3)2.
- Answer
-
x4−4x3−2x2+12x+9
Special Products
In this section, the goal is to recognize certain special products that occur often in our study of algebra. We will develop three formulas that will be very useful as we move along. The three should be memorized. We begin by considering the following two calculations:
(a+b)2=(a+b)(a+b)(a−b)2=(a−b)(a−b)=a2+ab+ba+b2=a2−ab−ba+b2=a2+ab+ab+b2=a2−ab−ab+b2=a2+2ab+b2=a2−2ab+b2
This leads us to two formulas that describe perfect square trinomials:
(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2
(a−b)2=a2−2ab+b2
We can use these formulas to quickly square a binomial.
Multiply:
(3x+5)2.
Solution:
Here a=3x and b=5. Apply the formula:
(a+b)2=a2+2ab+b2↓↓↓↓(3x+5)2=(3x)2+2⋅(3x)(5)+(5)2=9x2+30x+25
Answer:
9x2+30x+25
This process should become routine enough to be performed mentally.
Multiply:
(x−4)2.
Solution:
Here a=x and b=4. Apply the appropriate formula as follows:
(a−b)2=a2−2ab+b2↓↓↓↓(x−4)2=(x)2−2⋅(x)(4)+(4)2=x2−8x+16
Answer:
x2−8x+16
Our third special product follows:
(a+b)(a−b)=a2−ab+ba−b2=a2−ab+ab−b2=a2−b2
This product is called difference of squares:
(a+b)(a−b)=a2−b2
The binomials (a+b) and (a−b) are called conjugate binomials. Therefore, when conjugate binomials are multiplied, the middle term eliminates, and the product is itself a binomial.
Multiply:
(7x+4)(7x−4).
Solution:
Answer:
49x2−16
Multiply:
(−5x+2)2.
- Answer
-
25x2−20x+4
Multiplying Polynomial Functions
We use function notation to indicate multiplication as follows:
Multiplication of functions: | (f⋅g)(x)=f(x)⋅g(x) |
---|
Calculate:
(f⋅g)(x), given f(x)=5x2 and g(x)=−x2+2x−3.
Solution:
Multiply all terms of the trinomial by the monomial function f(x).
(f⋅g)(x)=f(x)⋅g(x)=5x2⋅(−x2+2x−3)=−5x4+10x3−15x2
Answer:
(f⋅g)(x)=−5x4+10x3−15x2
Calculate:
(f⋅g)(−1), given f(x)=−x+3 and g(x)=4x2−3x+6.
Solution:
First, determine (f⋅g)(x).
(f⋅g)(x)=f(x)⋅g(x)=(−x+3)(4x2−3x+6)=−4x3+3x2−6x+12x2−9x+18=−4x3+15x2−15x+18
We have
\((f\cdot g)(x) = -4x^{3}+15x^{2}-15x+18
Next, substitute −1 for the variable x.
(f⋅g)(−1)=−4(−1)3+15(−1)2−15(−1)+18=−4⋅(−1)+15⋅1+15+18=4+15+15+18=52
Answer:
(f⋅g)(−1)=52
Because (f⋅g)(−1)=f(−1)⋅g(−1), we could alternatively calculate f(−1) and g(−1) separately and then multiply the results (try this as an exercise). However, if we were asked to evaluate multiple values for the function (f⋅g)(x), it would be best to first determine the general form, as we have in the previous example.
Key Takeaways
- To multiply a polynomial by a monomial, apply the distributive property and then simplify each of the resulting terms.
- To multiply polynomials, multiply each term in the first polynomial with each term in the second polynomial. Then combine like terms.
- The product of an n-term polynomial and an m-term polynomial results in an m×n term polynomial before like terms are combined.
- Check results by evaluating values in the original expression and in your answer to verify that the results are the same.
- Use the formulas for special products to quickly multiply binomials that occur often in algebra.
Multiply.
- 5x(−3x2y)
- (−2x3y2)(−3xy4)
- 12(4x−3)
- −34(23x−6)
- 3x(5x−2)
- −4x(2x−1)
- x2(3x+2)
- −6x2(5x+3)
- 2ab(4a−2b)
- 5a2b(a2−b2)
- 6x2y3(−3x3y+xy2)
- 3ab3(−5ab3+6a2b)
- −12x2y(4xy−10)
- −3x4y2(3x8y3)
- 2x2(−5x3)(3x4)
- 4ab(a2b3c)(a4b2c4)
- −2(5x2−3x+4)
- 45(25x2−50xy+5y2)
- 3x(5x2−2x+3)
- −x(x2+x−1)
- x2(3x2−5x−7)
- x3(−4x2−7x+9)
- 14x4(8x3−2x2+12x−5)
- −13x3(32x5−23x3+92x−1)
- a2b(a2−3ab+b2)
- 6a2bc3(2a−3b+c2)
- 23xy2(9x3y−27xy+3xy3)
- −3x2y2(12x2−10xy−6y2)
- Find the product of 3x and 2x2−3x+5.
- Find the product of −8y and y2−2y+12.
- Find the product of −4x and x4−3x3+2x2−7x+8.
- Find the product of 3xy2 and −2x2y+4xy−xy2.
- Answer
-
1. −15x3y
3. 2x−32
5. 15x2−6x
7. 3x3+2x2
9. 8a2b−4ab2
11. −18x5y4+6x3y5
13. −2x3y2+5x2y
15. −30x9
17. −10x2+6x−8
19. 15x3−6x2+9x
21. 3x4−5x3−7x2
23. 2x7−12x6+18x5−54x4
25. a4b−3a3b2+a2b3
27. 6x4y3−18x2y3+2x2y5
29. 6x3−9x2+15x
31. −4x5+12x4−8x3+28x2−32x
Multiply.
- (3x−2)(x+4)
- (x+2)(x−3)
- (x−1)(x+1)
- (3x−1)(3x+1)
- (2x−5)(x+3)
- (5x−2)(3x+4)
- (−3x+1)(x−1)
- (x+5)(−x+1)
- (y−23)(y+23)
- (12x+13)(32x−23)
- (34x+15)(14x+25)
- (15x+310)(35x−52)
- (y2−2)(y+2)
- (y3−1)(y2+2)
- (a2−b2)(a2+b2)
- (a2−3b)2
- (x−5)(2x2+3x+4)
- (3x−1)(x2−4x+7)
- (2x−3)(4x2+6x+9)
- (5x+1)(25x2−5x+1)
- (x−12)(3x2+4x−1)
- (13x−14)(3x2+9x−3)
- (x+3)3
- (x−2)3
- (3x−1)3
- (2x+y)3
- (5x−2)(2x3−4x2+3x−2)
- (x2−2)(x3−2x2+x+1)
- Answer
-
1. 3x2+10x−8
3. x2−1
5. 2x2+x−15
7. −3x2+4x−1
9. y2−49
11. 316x2+720x+225
13. y3+2y2−2y−4
15. a4−b4
17. 2x3−7x2−11x−20
19. 8x3−27
21. 3x3+52x2−3x+12
23. x3+9x2+27x+27
25. 27x3−27x2+9x−1
27. 10x4−24x3+23x2−16x+4
Multiply.
- (x2−x+1)(x2+2x+1)
- (3x2−2x−1)(2x2+3x−4)
- (2x2−3x+5)(x2+5x−1)
- (a+b+c)(a−b−c)
- (a+2b−c)2
- (x+y+z)2
- (x−3)4
- (x+y)4
- Find the volume of a rectangular solid with sides measuring x,x+2, and x+4 units.
- Find the volume of a cube where each side measures x−5 units.
- Answer
-
1. x4+x3+x+1
3. 2x4+7x3−12x2+28x−5
5. a2+4ab−2ac+4b2−4bc+c2
7. x4−12x3+54x2−108x+81
9. x3+6x2+8x
Multiply.
- (x+2)2
- (x−3)2
- (2x+5)2
- (3x−7)2
- (−x+2)2
- (−9x+1)2
- (a+6)2
- (2a−3b)2
- (23x+34)2
- (12x−35)2
- (x2+2)2
- (x2+y2)2
- (x+4)(x−4)
- (2x+1)(2x−1)
- (5x+3)(5x−3)
- (15x−13)(15x+13)
- (32x+25)(32x−25)
- (2x−3y)(2x+3y)
- (4x−y)(4x+y)
- (a3−b3)(a3+b3)
- A box is made by cutting out the corners and folding up the edges of a square piece of cardboard. A template for a cardboard box with a height of 2 inches is given. Find a formula for the volume, if the initial piece of cardboard is a square with sides measuring x inches.
Figure 5.4.5 - A template for a cardboard box with a height of x inches is given. Find a formula for the volume, if the initial piece of cardboard is a square with sides measuring 12 inches.
Figure 5.4.6
- Answer
-
1. x2+4x+4
3. 4x2+20x+25
5. x2−4x+4
7. a2+12a+36
9. 49x2+x+916
11. x4+4x2+4
13. x2−16
15. 25x2−9
17. 94x2−425
19. 16x2−y2
21. V=2x2−16x+32 cubic inches
For each problem, calculate (f⋅g)(x), given the functions.
- f(x)=8x and g(x)=3x−5
- f(x)=x2 and g(x)=−5x+1
- f(x)=x−7 and g(x)=6x−1
- f(x)=5x+3 and g(x)=x2+2x−3
- f(x)=x2+6x−3 and g(x)=2x2−3x+5
- f(x)=3x2−x+1 and g(x)=−x2+2x−1
- Answer
-
1. (f⋅g)(x)=24x2−40x
3. (f⋅g)(x)=6x2−43x+7
5. (f⋅g)(x)=2x4+9x3−19x2+39x−15
Given f(x)=2x−3 and g(x)=3x−1, find the following
- (f⋅g)(x)
- (g⋅f)(x)
- (f⋅g)(0)
- (f⋅g)(−1)
- (f⋅g)(1)
- (f⋅g)(12)
- Answer
-
1. (f⋅g)(x)=6x2−11x+3
3. (f⋅g)(0)=3
5. (f⋅g)(1)=−2
Given f(x)=5x−1 and g(x)=2x2−4x+5, find the following.
- (f⋅g)(x)
- (g⋅f)(x)
- (f⋅g)(0)
- (f⋅g)(−1)
- (f⋅g)(1)
- (f⋅g)(12)
- (f⋅f)(x)
- (g⋅g)(x)
- Answer
-
1. (f⋅g)(x)=10x3−22x2+29x−5
3. (f⋅g)(0)=−5
5. (f⋅g)(1)=12
7. (f⋅f)(x)=25x2−10x+1
- Explain why (x+y)2≠x2+y2.
- Explain how to quickly multiply a binomial with its conjugate. Give an example.
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the mnemonic device FOIL?
- Answer
-
1. Answers may vary
3. Answers may vary