Try this website to learn about FOILing better:
Go to Google and type in "FOIL"
Click the first option (it starts with algebra.help........)
If you can't find the exact website, just look through Google to find a lesson on FOILing.
I think that one should try to let students understand how to multiply polynomials from first principles. If you need to spend a lot of time trying to let them understand the FOIL method, then that is a clear signal that they don't understand the basics.
So, forget about FOIL and let's try to teach them multiplication :)
While it is important to ensure that students have a strong foundation in understanding multiplication, the FOIL method can be a helpful tool for multiplying binomials. Here's an alternative way to explain FOIL:
1. Start by explaining that FOIL is a mnemonic device that stands for First, Outer, Inner, Last. It is used to simplify the multiplication of two binomials.
2. Begin by demonstrating the process with an example: (a + b)(c + d).
3. First, multiply the terms in the first position of each binomial: a * c = ac.
4. Next, multiply the terms in the outer positions: a * d = ad.
5. Then, multiply the terms in the inner positions: b * c = bc.
6. Finally, multiply the terms in the last position: b * d = bd.
7. Add all the results from steps 3-6 together: ac + ad + bc + bd.
This method ensures that each term of one binomial is multiplied by each term of the other binomial, resulting in the correct product.
While understanding the basics of multiplication is crucial, introducing the FOIL method can serve as a useful strategy for multiplying binomials efficiently. It can be taught alongside a thorough understanding of multiplication principles to provide students with a range of tools to tackle mathematical problems.