1.4.
2 Multiplying Polynomials
Multiplying Two Monomials
When multiplying polynomials, specially two monomials, use the commutative and
associative properties along with the laws of exponents.
Example 1. Multiply.
a. (5𝑥 2 )(3𝑥) c. (−6𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )(9𝑥𝑦 4 )
b. (−2𝑥 2 𝑦)(−13) d. (8𝑥 4 𝑦)(−7𝑥 𝑚 𝑦 𝑛 )
Solution
First, multiply the numerical coefficients. Then, multiply the literal coefficients by applying
the laws of exponents.
a. (5𝑥 2 )(3𝑥) = (5 ∙ 3)(𝑥 2 ∙ 𝑥) = 15𝑥 3
b. (−2𝑥 2 𝑦)(−13) = (−2)(−13)𝑥 2 𝑦 = 26𝑥 2 𝑦
c. (−6𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )(9𝑥𝑦 4 ) = (−6 ∙ 9)(𝑥 3 ∙ 𝑥)(𝑦 2 ∙ 𝑦 4 ) = −54𝑥 4 𝑦 6
d. (8𝑥 4 𝑦)(−7𝑥 𝑚 𝑦 𝑛 ) = −56𝑥 4+𝑚 𝑦1+𝑛
To multiply a monomial by a polynomial, use the distributive property. Its application
results in monomials being multiplied by another monomial.
Example 2. Multiply.
a. 8(3𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 2𝑧)
b. −2𝑥 3 (6𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 9)
c. (6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑦 − 8𝑦 2 )4𝑥 3 𝑦 2
Solution
Distribute the monomial factor to the terms of the other polynomial factor.
a. 8(3𝑥 − 4𝑦 + 2𝑧)
= 8(3𝑥) + 8(−4𝑦) + 8(2𝑧)
= 24𝑥 − 32𝑦 + 16𝑧
b. −2𝑥 3 (6𝑥 3 − 7𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 9)
= −2𝑥 3 (6𝑥 3 ) − 2𝑥 3 (−7𝑥 2 ) − 2𝑥 3 (4𝑥) − 2𝑥 3 (−9)
= −12𝑥 6 + 14𝑥 5 − 8𝑥 4 + 18𝑥 3
c. (6𝑥 2 + 5𝑥𝑦 − 8𝑦 2 )4𝑥 3 𝑦 2
= 6𝑥 2 (4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ) + 5𝑥𝑦(4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 ) − 8𝑦 2 (4𝑥 3 𝑦 2 )
= 24𝑥 5 𝑦 2 + 20𝑥 4 𝑦 3 − 32𝑥 3 𝑦 4
Multiplying Two Binomials
Using the distributive property, two binomials can be multiplied. When multiplying, the
principle to remember is, every term in one binomial must be multiplied to every term in the
other binomial. Similar terms must always be combined.
Example 3. Multiply
a. (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 7)
b. (2𝑦 − 5)(3𝑦 + 2)
Solution
a. (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 7) = 𝑥 (𝑥 + 7) + 3(𝑥 + 7)
= 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 3𝑥 + 7
= 𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 7
b. (2𝑦 − 5)(3𝑦 + 2) = 2𝑦(3𝑦 + 2) − 5(3𝑦 + 2)
= 6𝑦 2 + 4𝑦 − 15𝑦 − 10
= 6𝑦 2 − 11𝑦 − 10
Product of Two Binomials
(𝑥 + 𝑏 )(𝑥 + 𝑑 ) = 𝑥 2 + (𝑏 + 𝑑 )𝑥 + 𝑏𝑑
(𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑦)(𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑𝑦) = 𝑎𝑐𝑥 2 + (𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐)𝑥𝑦 + 𝑏𝑑𝑦 2
Example 4. Give the product of each.
a. (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 5)
b. (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 3)
Solution
a. (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 5) = 𝑥 2 + [2 + (−5)]𝑥 + (2)(−5)
= 𝑥 2 + [−3]𝑥 + (−10)
= 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
b. (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 − 3) = 𝑥 2 + [−4 + (−3)]𝑥 + (−4)(−3)
= 𝑥 2 + (−7𝑥) + (−7)
= 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 7
Another way of multiplying Polynomials is by using Special Product Formula (SPF)
1. 𝑎(𝑥 + 𝑦) = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑎𝑦
Example:
5𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧(𝑧 5 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 8𝑦 7 𝑧 9 )
Solution:
5𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧(𝑧 5 + 2𝑥𝑦 − 8𝑦 7 𝑧 9 )
5𝑥 4 𝑦 2 𝑧 + 10𝑥 5 𝑦 3 𝑧 − 40𝑥 4 𝑦 9 𝑧 10
2. (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2
Example:
(3𝑎2 + 2𝑏)(3𝑎2 − 2𝑏)
Solution:
(3𝑎2 + 2𝑏)(3𝑎2 − 2𝑏)
(3𝑎2 )2 − (2𝑏 )2
9𝑎4 − 4𝑏 2
3. (𝑥 + 𝑦)2 = 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦 2
Example:
(4𝑚2 + 3)2
Solution:
(4𝑚2 + 3)2
(4𝑚2 )2 + 2(4𝑚2 )(3) + (3)2
16𝑚4 + 24𝑚2 + 9
4. (𝑥 − 𝑦)2 = 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2
Example:
(2𝑥 − 4)2
Solution:
(2𝑥 − 4)2
(2𝑥)2 − 2(2𝑥)(4) + (4)2
4𝑥 2 − 16𝑥 + 16
5. (𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 )(𝑐𝑥 + 𝑑 ) = 𝑎𝑐𝑥 2 + (𝑎𝑑 + 𝑏𝑐)𝑥 + 𝑏𝑑
Example:
(𝑝 − 11)(𝑝 + 5)
Solution:
(𝑝 − 11)(𝑝 + 5)
𝑝2 + 5𝑝
−11𝑝 − 55
2
𝑝 − 6𝑝 − 55
6. (𝑥 + 𝑦)3 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3
Example:
(2𝑥 + 3𝑦)3
Solution:
(2𝑥 + 3𝑦)3
(2𝑥)3 + 3(2𝑥)2 (3𝑦) + 3(2𝑥)(3𝑦)2 + (3𝑦)3
8𝑥 3 + 3(4𝑥 2 )(3𝑦) + 6𝑥(9𝑦 2 ) + 27𝑦 3
8𝑥 3 + 36𝑥 2 𝑦 + 54𝑥𝑦 2 + 27𝑦 3
7. (𝑥 − 𝑦)2
Example:
(3𝑥 − 2)3
Solution:
(3𝑥 − 2)3
(3𝑥)3 − 3(3𝑥)2 (2) + 3(3𝑥)(2)2 − (2)3
27𝑥 3 − 3(9𝑥 2 )(2) + 9𝑥(4) − 8
27𝑥 3 − 45𝑥 2 + 36𝑥 − 8
8. (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )
Example:
(3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦)(9𝑥 4 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑦 2 )
Solutions:
(3𝑥 2 + 2𝑦)(9𝑥 4 − 6𝑥 2 𝑦 + 4𝑦 2 )
(3𝑥)3 + (2𝑦)3
27𝑥 3 + 8𝑦 3
9. (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 ) = 𝑥 3 − 𝑦 3
Example:
(𝑥 2 − 3)(𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 9)
Solution:
(𝑥 2 − 3)(𝑥 4 − 3𝑥 2 + 9)
(𝑥 2 )3 − (3)3
𝑥 6 − 27
10. (𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑧)2 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 𝑧 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑦𝑧 + 2𝑥𝑧
Example:
(2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 3)2
Solution:
(2𝑥 + 𝑦 − 3)2
(2𝑥)2 + (𝑦)2 + (−3)2 + 2(2𝑥)(𝑦) + 2(𝑦)(−3) + 2(2𝑥)(−3)
4𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 + 9 + 4𝑥𝑦 − 6𝑦 − 12𝑥
Activity:
Multiply the following. Use the SPF in solving.
1. −9𝑧 2 𝑦(𝑥 6 𝑧𝑦 3 − 8𝑧 2 𝑦 2 + 4𝑥𝑧 3 𝑦 5 )
2. (3𝑏 2 − 5)2
3. (3𝑥 − 𝑦 + 5)2
4. (𝑦 − 15)(𝑦 + 9)
5. (𝑧 − 3)3
6. (2𝑥 − 2𝑦)(2𝑦 + 2𝑥)
7. (5𝑥 + 2𝑦)(25𝑥 2 − 10𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑦 2 )
8. (𝑧 2 + 2𝑥)2
9. (𝑧 + 𝑥 2 )(𝑧 − 𝑥 2 )
10. (5𝑥 − 2𝑦 + 9𝑧)2
