6.3 Special Products
Learning Objectives
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
- Square a binomial using the Binomial Squares Pattern
- Multiply conjugates using the Product of Conjugates Pattern
- Recognize and use the appropriate special product pattern
Square a Binomial Using the Binomial Squares Pattern
Mathematicians like to look for patterns that will make their work easier. A good example of this is squaring binomials. While you can always get the product by writing the binomial twice and using the methods of the last section, there is less work to do if you learn to use a pattern.
| Let’s start by looking at . | |
| What does this mean? | |
| It means to multiply by itself. | |
| Then, using FOIL, we get: | |
| Combining like terms gives: |
| Here’s another one: | |
| Multiply by itself. | |
| Using FOIL, we get: | |
| And combining like terms: |
| And one more: | |
| Multiply. | |
| Use FOIL: | |
| Combine like terms. |
Look at these results. Do you see any patterns?
What about the number of terms? In each example we squared a binomial and the result was a trinomial.
Now look at the first term in each result. Where did it come from?
The first term is the product of the first terms of each binomial. Since the binomials are identical, it is just the square of the first term!
To get the first term of the product, square the first term.
Where did the last term come from? Look at the examples and find the pattern.
The last term is the product of the last terms, which is the square of the last term.
To get the last term of the product, square the last term.
Finally, look at the middle term. Notice it came from adding the “outer” and the “inner” terms—which are both the same! So the middle term is double the product of the two terms of the binomial.
To get the middle term of the product, multiply the terms and double their product.
Putting it all together:
If and are real numbers,
HOW TO:
To square a binomial:
- square the first term
- square the last term
- double their product
A number example helps verify the pattern.
| Square the first term. | |
| Square the last term. | |
| Double their product. | |
| Simplify. | |
| Simplify. |
To multiply usually you’d follow the Order of Operations.
The pattern works!
EXAMPLE 1
Multiply: .
| Square the first term. | |
| Square the last term. | |
| Double the product. | |
| Simplify. |
TRY IT 1.1
Multiply: .
Show answer
TRY IT 1.2
Multiply: .
Show answer
EXAMPLE 2
Multiply: .
| Square the first term. | |
| Square the last term. | |
| Double the product. | |
| Simplify. |
TRY IT 2.1
Multiply: .
Show answer
TRY IT 2.2
Multiply: .
Show answer
EXAMPLE 3
Multiply: .
| Square the first term. | |
| Square the last term. | |
| Double the product. | |
| Simplify. |
Once you become comfortable with using the pattern (or formula), you can apply it after determining the values of and .
| Here the value of is and is . That means you can substitute and in the pattern for squaring a binomial. | |
| Use the p