Ways of multiplying binomials

Here are three methods of multiplying binomials. Method 1 is known as the long method of multiplication. It’s the same procedure you did with numbers in primary school. It works with multiplying any two polynomials. Method 2 looks efficient but it only works for multiplying binomials. It’s also called the FOIL method for multiplying binomials. Can you see how this relates with Method 1? Method 3 is also known as the area method. It works for multiplying any two polynomials as well. It’s the same as Method 1 but easier to manage the terms. You just add the area diagonally.

I hope these illustrations of the methods will be of help you. Be careful with the signs when you multiply.