Question

Using the FOIL method, you get (2x + 1)(x - 3) = 2x^2 - x + ( ). Fill in the missing data.

a) -4x + 2
b) -5x + 3
c) -2x - 1
d) 3x - 9

Answer 1

Using the FOIL method on (2x + 1)(x - 3) results in 2x² - 5x - 3. Therefore, the missing data in the expression is '-5x - 3', matching option (b).

Step-by-step explanation:

When using the FOIL method to expand the expression (2x + 1)(x - 3), we multiply each term in the first parenthesis by each term in the second parenthesis. Doing this step by step, we get:

• First: (2x) × (x) = 2x²
• Outer: (2x) × (-3) = -6x
• Inner: (1) × (x) = x
• Last: (1) × (-3) = -3

Now we combine these results to fill in the missing data:

2x² + (-6x + x) - 3

Combine like terms:

2x² - 5x - 3

So the correct missing data to fill in the blank is -5x - 3, which corresponds to option (b).