How do you FOIL $(x-2)(x+3)$ ?

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Answer 1 · 2015-05-28T00:20:17

FOIL stands for "First, Outer, Inner, Last."

"First" refers to the first term of each factor: here, this would be $x$ and $x$
"Outer" refers to the outermost terms of each factor: here this would be $x$ and $3$
"Inner" refers to the innermost terms of each factor (those nearest the middle): here this would be $-2$ and $x$
"Last" refers to the last term of each factor: here this would be $-2$ and $3$

Utilizing the foil method, one adds together the indicated products (so the product of the First terms, plus the product of the Outer terms, etc.)

F: $x*x = x^2$
O: $x*3 = 3x$
I: $-2*x = -2x$
L: $-2*3 = -6$

Adding these together yields

$x^2 + 3x - 2x -6 = x^2 +x -6$

How do you FOIL (x-2)(x+3)(x-2)(x+3)?