Special Product Cases for Multiplying Polynomials

We continued to FOIL binomials while looking at special situations, hoping to discover a shortcut in the process. When squaring a particular binomial, you can use a shortcut several students suggested to save time. When multiplying the sum and difference of two terms, there is a different shortcut that you can use.

( a + b ) ( a - b ) = a^2 - b^2

( a + b ) ( a + b ) = a^2 + 2ab + b^2

( a - b ) ( a - b ) = a^2 - 2ab + b^2

We also started talking about the zero product rule, and how it relates to the quadratic equation and x-intercepts of parabolas.

Tonight's Homework: Lesson 10.3 ( 16 - 38, even, 44, 48, and 52 ).