Recall the product rule for exponents: if and are positive integers, then
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,
To multiply a polynomial by a monomial, apply the distributive property and then simplify each term.
Example
Multiply:
.
Solution:
In this case, multiply the monomial, , by the binomial, . Apply the distributive property and then simplify.
Figure
Answer:
Example
Multiply:
.
Solution:
Apply the distributive property and then simplify.
Figure
Answer:
Example
Multiply:
.
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.
Exercise
Multiply:
.
Answer
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.
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 and separately as follows:
Figure
This is often called the FOIL method. We add the products of the first terms of each binomial , the uter terms , the nner terms , and finally the last terms . This mnemonic device only works for products of binomials; hence it is best to just remember that the distributive property applies.
Example
Multiply:
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Solution:
Distribute and then distribute .
Simplify by combining like terms.
Answer:
Example
Multiply:
.
Solution:
Distribute and then distribute .
Answer:
Example
Multiply:
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Solution:
Answer:
After applying the distributive property, combine any like terms.
Example
Multiply:
.
Solution:
After multiplying each term of the trinomial by and , simplify.
Answer:
Example
Multiply:
.
Solution:
Perform one product at a time.
Figure
Answer:
At this point, it is worth pointing out a common mistake:
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:
Exercise
Multiply:
.
Answer
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.
Example
Multiply:
.
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:
Notice that when multiplying a trinomial by a trinomial, we obtain nine terms before simplifying. In fact, when multiplying an -term polynomial by an m-term polynomial, we will obtain terms. In the previous example, we were asked to multiply and found that
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 in both expressions to verify that the results are the same. Here we choose :
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
Multiply:
.
Answer
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:
This leads us to two formulas that describe perfect square trinomials:
We can use these formulas to quickly square a binomial.
Example
Multiply:
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Solution:
Here and . Apply the formula:
Answer:
This process should become routine enough to be performed mentally.
Example
Multiply:
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Solution:
Here and . Apply the appropriate formula as follows:
Answer:
Our third special product follows:
This product is called difference of squares:
The binomials and are called conjugate binomials. Therefore, when conjugate binomials are multiplied, the middle term eliminates, and the product is itself a binomial.
Example
Multiply:
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Solution:
Answer:
Exercise
Multiply:
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Answer
Multiplying Polynomial Functions
We use function notation to indicate multiplication as follows:
Multiplication of functions:
Table
Example
Calculate:
, given and .
Solution:
Multiply all terms of the trinomial by the monomial function .
Answer:
Example
Calculate:
, given and .
Solution:
First, determine .
We have
\((f\cdot g)(x) = -4x^{3}+15x^{2}-15x+18
Next, substitute for the variable .
Answer:
Because , we could alternatively calculate and separately and then multiply the results (try this as an exercise). However, if we were asked to evaluate multiple values for the function , 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 -term polynomial and an -term polynomial results in an 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.
Exercise Product of a Monomial and a Polynomial
Multiply.
Find the product of and .
Find the product of and .
Find the product of and .
Find the product of and .
Answer
1.
3.
5.
7.
9.
11.
13.
15.
17.
19.
21.
23.
25.
27.
29.
31.
Exercise Product of a Binomial and a Polynomial
Multiply.
Answer
1.
3.
5.
7.
9.
11.
13.
15.
17.
19.
21.
23.
25.
27.
Exercise Product of Polynomials
Multiply.
Find the volume of a rectangular solid with sides measuring , and units.
Find the volume of a cube where each side measures units.
Answer
1.
3.
5.
7.
9.
Exercise Special Products
Multiply.
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 inches is given. Find a formula for the volume, if the initial piece of cardboard is a square with sides measuring inches. Figure
A template for a cardboard box with a height of inches is given. Find a formula for the volume, if the initial piece of cardboard is a square with sides measuring inches. Figure
Answer
1.
3.
5.
7.
9.
11.
13.
15.
17.
19.
21. cubic inches
Exercise Multiplying Polynomial Functions
For each problem, calculate , given the functions.
and
and
and
and
and
and
Answer
1.
3.
5.
Exercise Multiplying Polynomial Functions
Given and , find the following
Answer
1.
3.
5.
Exercise Multiplying Polynomial Functions
Given and , find the following.
Answer
1.
3.
5.
7.
Exercise Discussion Board Topics
Explain why .
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?