FOIL: Multiplying Factors

FOILing.

Multiplying out two factors can be a little tricky. The FOIL mnemonic is a quick method when you have two terms in each factor, such as in:

(a + b)(a + b)

FOIL stands for:

  • Firsts,
  • Outer,
  • Inner,
  • Lasts.

It applies to the multiplication of the binomial cube.

Multiplying out factors using FOIL.

Another way of showing the process — step by step — would be like this:

Multiplying factors using FOIL.

After FOILing you combine the similar terms:

Combining like terms to get the final result.