How to factor your food and foil the

leftovers!

Summer McElmanPi Day Project 2012

Multiplying Polynomials A polynomial consists of two or more numbers,

variables, or products with or without exponents.• Ex) 5x+3, -2y-1, x²+3

A standard form of multiplying polynomials would be• (x+4)(x+2)

To multiply polynomials three methods are possible1. Algebra Tiles2. Punnett Square 3. Foil

Algebra Tiles There are three different shapes of Algebra tiles and

each side is important. Colors represent positive and negative and are usually used by the colors green(blue) and red(black).

1 -1x² -x²

x

-x

Multiplying Algebra Tiles Ex) (x+3)(x+4)

1. Represent factors with tiles2. Fill in spots to connect tiles3. Trinomial is created

• x² + 7x + 12x² x x xx

x

x

x

1111

1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1

Practice Problem1. Your sister is making tuna sandwiches and she needs to know

the area of the bread in order to make enough tuna to cover it. You measure the sides to be (x+2) and (x+4). What is the total area?

x²

1x

1x

1x1x1x 1x

1 111

1 11 1

x² + 6x + 8

Punnett Square Ex) (x+5)(x+2)

1. Plug factors into punnett square2. Multiply by rows3. Simplify polynomial

x

2

5

x x²

102x

5x

Practice Problem1. Your brother is eating a block of cheese and you want

to the know the area of the section he bit off of. You measure the sides to be (x+1) and (x+3). What is the area of the bitten off cheese?

x

x

3

1

x² 3x

x 3

x² + 3x + x + 3

x² + 4x + 3

Foil Ex) (x+7)(x+3)

1. First: (x+7)(x+3) = (x)(x) = x²

2. Outside: (x+7)(x+3) = (x)(3) = 3x

3. Inside: (x+7)(x+3) = (7)(x) = 7x

4. Last: (x+7)(x+3) = (7)(3) = 21

x²+3x+7x+21

x²+10x+21

The Food Pyramid

GRAINSVEGETABLE

SFRUITS OILS MILK

MEAT & BEANS