use the FOIL method to perform the multiplication.

(x^1/2-2)(x^1/2+4)

I can not seem to find the answer to this problem. Can anyone help?

Thank You!

1 answer

FOIL is an acronym for
First Outer Inner Last
used when multiplying binomials.
1. Multiply the FIRST terms in each binomail. In this problem that would be
x^(1/2) * x^(1/2)
2. Multiply the OUTER terms:
x^(1/2) * 4
3. Multiply the INNER terms:
-2 * x^(1/2)
4. Multiply the LAST terms in each binomial:
-2 * 4
Then add all the like like terms.