Table of Contents |
The distributive rule allows us to distribute an outside factor into all terms of another factor.
EXAMPLE
Distribute 2 into 4 and 3 | |
Multiply inside the parentheses | |
Add 8 to 6 | |
Our Solution |
If we have two factors in the form , we can use the distributive property in a different way, commonly referred to as the FOIL method.
EXAMPLE
Apply steps to FOIL | |
Add and subtract | |
Our Solution |
The distributive rule and FOIL method can be applied to multiply expressions with radicals as well. First, we will look at an example of distribution, where two identical radicals are multiplied together.
EXAMPLE
Distribute the square root of 2 | |
simplifies to the integer 2 | |
Our Solution |
We can also use the FOIL method to distribute across two binomials in multiplication when there are radicals. This is illustrated in the following example:
EXAMPLE
Apply the steps to FOIL | |
simplifies to the integer 3 | |
Combine like terms | |
Our Solution |
Source: ADAPTED FROM "BEGINNING AND INTERMEDIATE ALGEBRA" BY TYLER WALLACE, AN OPEN SOURCE TEXTBOOK AVAILABLE AT www.wallace.ccfaculty.org/book/book.html. License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License