Question

Use the FOIL method to find the given product.
left parenthesis x minus 1 right parenthesis left parenthesis x plus 3 right parenthesis
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Part 1
left parenthesis x minus 1 right parenthesis left parenthesis x plus 3 right parenthesis ​=
  
negative 3

Answer 1

To use the FOIL method (First, Outside, Inside, Last) to find the product of \((x - 1)(x + 3)\), we proceed as follows:

1. **First:** Multiply the first terms in each binomial:
\[
x \cdot x = x^2
\]

2. **Outside:** Multiply the outer terms:
\[
x \cdot 3 = 3x
\]

3. **Inside:** Multiply the inner terms:
\[
-1 \cdot x = -x
\]

4. **Last:** Multiply the last terms in each binomial:
\[
-1 \cdot 3 = -3
\]

Now, we combine all of these results:
\[
x^2 + 3x - x - 3
\]

Combine the like terms (\(3x - x\)):
\[
x^2 + 2x - 3
\]

Therefore, the product of \((x - 1)(x + 3)\) is:
\[
\boxed{x^2 + 2x - 3}
\]