Multiplying Polynomials

In these lessons, we will learn how to multiply polynomials.

Related Topics:
More Lessons on Algebra

Free Math Worksheets

Multiplying Polynomials and Monomials

When finding the product of a monomial and a polynomial, we multiply the monomial by each term of the polynomial. Be careful with the sign (+ or –) of each term.

Example:

Evaluate

a) 5(x + y)
b) – 2x(y + 3)
c) 5x(x² – 3)
d) –2x³(x² – 3x + 4)

Solution:

a) 5(x + y) = 5x + 5y
b) – 2x(y + 3) = – 2xy – 6x
c) 5x(x² – 3) = 5x³– 15x
d) –2x³(x² – 3x + 4) = –2x⁵ + 6x⁴ – 8x³

Multiplying Polynomials and Polynomials

The multiplication of polynomials having more than one term requires the repeated use of the distributive property.

Example

Multiply (2x + 5)(x +1)

Solution:

(2x + 5)(x + 1)
= x(2x + 5) + 1(2x + 5)
= 2x² + 5x + 2x + 5
= 2x² + 7x + 5

Example:

Multiply (5y²– 2y + 3)(3y – 4)

Solution:

(5y² – 2y + 3)(3y – 4)
= 3y(5y² – 2y + 3) – 4(5y² – 2y + 3)
= 15y³ – 6y² + 9y – 20y² + 8y – 12
= 15y³ – 26y² + 17y – 12

Multiplying Polynomials – Special Products

We will now consider two special types of products of binomials.

The first type is a trinomial that comes from squaring a binomial. (It is also called a perfect square)

Its general form is

(A + B)² = A² + 2AB + B²

Example:

(x + 5)² = x² + 10x + 25
(y – 3)² = y²– 6y + 9

The second type is a binomial that comes from multiplying two binomials. (It is also called the difference of two squares)

Its general form is

(A + B)(A – B) = A² – B²

Example:

(x + 4)(x – 4) = x²– 16
(5y – 7)(5y + 7) = 25y² - 49

Videos

Multiplying Monomials and/or Binomials and FOIL
We multiply monomials and binomials using different methods, including the distributive property and FOIL. FOIL is a mnemonic device to remember how to find the product of two binomials: we multiply the First, Outer, Inner, and then Last terms in each binomial. When multiplying monomials and binomials, it is important to remember the rules of multiplying exponents.

This video shows how to multiply a binomial and a trinomial by distributing each of the terms in the binomial through the trinomial

Multiplying polynomials
Special products: Difference of Two Squares and Perfect Square. Multiplying Polynomials
This video explains how to multiply monomials and polynomials.

Multiplying Polynomials - Slightly Harder Examples #1 Multiplying Polynomials - Slightly Harder Examples #2
Multiply a trinomial by a trinomial.