Name: ____________________________________
Rania Date: __________________
MULTIPLYING POLYNOMIALS
COMMON CORE ALGEBRA II
Polynomials are expressions that are mainly combinations of terms with both addition and subtraction that can
have only constants and positive integer powers. They are truly just an extension of our base-10 number system.
Exercise #1: Given the polynomial 2 x 3 5 x 2 3 x 4 , what is its value when x 10 ? How can you determine
this without the use of your calculator? If you cannot, use your calculator to help and then explain why the
answer turns out as it does.
We've already reviewed how to multiply polynomials by monomials in the last lesson. In this lesson we will
look at multiplying polynomials by themselves. The key here is the distributive property. Let's start by looking
at the product of binomials.
Exercise #2: Consider the product of 3 x 2 with 2 x 5 .
(a) Find this product using the distributive (b) Represent this product on the area model
property twice (or possibly "foiling.") shown below.
2x 5
3x
Exercise #3: Find the product of the binomial 4 x 3 with the trinomial 2 x 2 5 x 3 . Represent your
product using an area array. Even though the result has an x 3 term, the area array can still help us keep track of
the product to make sure we are distributing correctly.
COMMON CORE ALGEBRA II, UNIT #1 – ESSENTIAL ALGEBRA CONCEPTS – LESSON #5
eMATHINSTRUCTION, RED HOOK, NY 12571, © 2015
It is critical to understand that when we multiply two polynomials then our result is equivalent to this product
and this equivalence can be tested.
Exercise #4: Consider the product of x 2 and 2 x 5 .
(a) Evaluate this product for x 4 . Show the (b) Find a trinomial that represents the product of
work that leads to your result. these two binomials.
(c) Evaluate the trinomial for x 4 . Is it (d) What is the value of the trinomial when x 2 ?
equivalent to the answer you found in (a)? yes Can you explain why this makes sense based
on the two binomials?
Exercise #5: The product of three binomials, just like the product of two, can be found with repeated
applications of the distributive property.
(a) Find the product: x 2 x 4 x 7 . Use area arrays to help keep track of the product.
(b) For what three values of x will the cubic polynomial that you found in part (a) have a value of zero? What
famous law is this known as?
Zero Product Law
(c) Test one of the three values you found in (b) to verify that it is a zero of the cubic polynomial.
COMMON CORE ALGEBRA II, UNIT #1 – ESSENTIAL ALGEBRA CONCEPTS – LESSON #5
eMATHINSTRUCTION, RED HOOK, NY 12571, © 2015
Name: ____________________________________ Date: __________________
MULTIPLYING POLYNOMIALS
COMMON CORE ALGEBRA II HOMEWORK
FLUENCY
1. Multiply the following binomials and express each product as an equivalent trinomial. Use an area model to
help find your product, if necessary.
(a) x 5 x 8 (b) 3 x 2 2 x 7 (c) 5 x 2 2 x 3
(d) x 2 4 x 2 10 (e) 2 x 3 1 5 x 3 4 (f) x 2 1 x 2 9
2. Find each of the following products in equivalent form. Use an array model to help find your final answers
if you find it helpful.
(a) x 5 x 2 3 x 2 (b) 2 x 3 4 x 2 5 x 7
(c) 2 x 5
3
COMMON CORE ALGEBRA II, UNIT #1 – ESSENTIAL ALGEBRA CONCEPTS – LESSON #5
eMATHINSTRUCTION, RED HOOK, NY 12571, © 2015
APPLICATIONS
3. A square of an unknown side length x inches has one side length increased by 4 inches and the other
increased by 7 inches.
(a) If the original square is shown below with side lengths marked as x, label the second diagram to
represent the new rectangle constructed by increasing the sides as described above.
x x
x x
(b) Label each portion of the second diagram with their areas in terms of x (when applicable). State the
product of x 4 and x 7 as a trinomial below.
(c) If the original square had a side length of (d) Verify that the trinomial you found in part (b)
x 2 inches, then what is the area of the has the same value as (c) for x 2 .
second rectangle? Show how you arrived at
your answer.
REASONING
4. Think about the expression x 8 x 4 .
(a) For what values of x will this expression be (b) Write this product as an equivalent trinomial.
equal to zero? Show how you arrived at your
answer.
8 and -4
(c) Show that this trinomial is also equal to zero at the larger value of x from part (a).
COMMON CORE ALGEBRA II, UNIT #1 – ESSENTIAL ALGEBRA CONCEPTS – LESSON #5
eMATHINSTRUCTION, RED HOOK, NY 12571, © 2015
