Question

Why is it difficult to find the correct factors for a trinomial using The FOIL method?

Answer 1

FOIL is not used to factor but to apply the distributive property.

Explanation:

The FOIL method is used to apply the distributive property not factoring.

It is used to perform operations like (x-2)(x+6). FOIL stands for first, outer, inner, and last for the order of multiplying each of the four terms with the other terms.

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

This is FOIL. Then we simplify to
`x^2+4x-12`