Can you help me solve this? Binomial?

Question

I tried the foil method but its still not working. I think you can only use this method for binomials by binomials. I know how to do trinomials times binomials and the foil method its just this one. Example: (x-2) (x-6) (x-4) also how do I solve this? (y+2/7) (y-2/7). Do I have to get rid of fractions first? (I would like to.) The easiest way please...

Answer 1

Your right.  You can only use the foil method when working with two binomials.  

The only help I can give you is to go to www.ehow.com and type in your problem. (binomial fraction by binomail fraction; or something along those lines.)

Try basic search engines asking how to ....(figure out polynomials), etc.

hope this helps

Answer 2

(x-2) (x-6) (x-4)

start by foiling the first two to get a trinomial

(x-2) (x-6) = (x^2 -6x - 2x + 12) = (x^2 -8x+12)

then multiply the remaining binomial times the trinomial

(x^2 -8x+12) (x-4) = (x^3 - 4x^2 -8x^2 + 32x +12x - 48) = x^3 - 12x^2 +44x + 48

x^3 - 12x^2 +44x + 48 <----- Answer

the other one is the product of binomials and you can foil.  Since this is a mathematical expression (vice an equation) you can't really eliminate the fractions (sorry).

(y+2/7) (y+2/7) = y^2 + 2y/7 + 2y/7 + 4/49 = y^2 + 4y/7 + 4/49

y2 + 4y/7 + 4/49 <----- Answer