SAT Subject Test Mathematics Level 2

x^2     +   4x  +   3x  +   12  =   x^2     +   7x  +   12

Multiplying polynomials: To multiply polynomials with more than two terms, make sure you
multiply each term in the first polynomial by each term in the second. (FOIL works only when you
want to multiply two binomials.)

After multiplying two polynomials together, the number of terms in your expression before
simplifying should equal the number of terms in one polynomial multiplied by the number of terms
in the second. In the example above, you should have 3 × 2 = 6 terms in the product before you
combine like terms.

MULTIPLYING BINOMIALS—FOIL

DIVIDING POLYNOMIALS

To divide polynomials, you can use long division. For example, divide 2 x^3 + 13x^2 + 11x − 16 by x + 5:

(a  +   b)(c    +   d ) =   ?

First   =   ac

Outer   =   ad

Inner   =   bc

Last    =   bd

Product =   ac  +   ad  +   bc  +   bd