In order to simplify the above expression, we can use the FOIL Method (First, Outer, Inner, Last) to multiply the elements of the expression and add the results. Given , then:

First: 

Outer: 

Inner: 

Last: 

Thus, by FOIL:

 In order to simplify the above expression, we can use the FOIL Method (First, Outer, Inner, Last) to multiply the elements of the expression and add the results. Given , then:

First: 

Outer: 

Inner: 

Last: 

Thus, by FOIL:

2x, (x+1), and (x-1) are separate factors being multiplied, so it doesn't matter what order you multiply them together.  I choose to multiply (x+1) and (x-1) first.

Following the pattern of FOIL, we muliply each element of each polynomial with each other and add them together:

In order to expand the equation given, we need to use the FOIL method for distribution. Let's look at the expression we need to simplify, and work through the steps of FOIL: 

F stands for FIRST - we multiply together the first terms inside each set of parantheses, which in this case is  , giving us 

O stands for OUTER - we multiply together the first term in the first set of parentheses and the second term in the second pair of parentheses, which in this case is , giving us 

I stands for INNER - we multiply together the second term in the first set of parentheses and the first term in the second pair of parentheses, which in this case is , giving us 

L stands for LAST - we multiply together the second terms inside each set of parantheses, which in this case is , giving us .

Now, we add together all four values that we got from using FOIL to get:

We can combine like terms to reach our final answer of:

Expand the following expression using FOIL

Let's begin with a recap of what FOIL stands for:

First    

Outer 

Inner 

Last 

The point of foil is to be a helpful reminder to multiply all the terms and to not leave anything out.

So, up above we did the multiplying, to wrap up, let's order the final terms in standard (decreasing by exponent) order to get...

FOIL stands for:

F: First (First set of terms in each equation) Eg.  and 

O: Outside (Outside sets of terms in each equation) Eg.  and 

I: Inside (Inside sets of terms in each equation) Eg.  and 

L: Last (Last set of terms in each equation) Eg.  and 

When using FOIL multiply each set of terms together.

After multiplying each set of terms together you should have

You must then simplify terms to get

When a variable has no number in front of it it means 1 of them.

So  +  is  or just 

Let's use FOIL to distribute.

F: Multiply first terms in each binomial 

O: Multiply the outer terms from both binomials 

I: Multiply the inner terms from both binomials 

L: Multiply the last terms in each binomial 

Finally, we add them all up and we get . The middle terms are the same and can be added up and simplified to .

Let's use FOIL to distribute.

F: Multiply first terms in each binomial 

O: Multiply the outer terms from both binomials 

I: Multiply the inner terms from both binomials 

L: Multiply the last terms in each binomial 

Finally, we add them all up and we get . The plus and minus signs all become minus signs. The middle terms are the same and can be added up and simplified to .