Multiplying Polynomials: Definition, Steps, Methods, Examples, Facts

What Is the Multiplication of Polynomials?

To multiply two polynomials, we use the distributive property of multiplication where we multiply each term of the first polynomial by each term of the second polynomial. While doing so, we multiply variables with variables, coefficients with coefficients, and finally add all the results together.

There are different types of polynomials based on the number of terms, such as monomials, binomials, trinomials, and so on. We use different strategies to multiply different types of polynomials together. 

Rules for Multiplying Polynomials

In the multiplication of polynomials, the polynomials can be monomials, binomials, trinomials, etc. The steps to multiply two or more polynomials are as follows:

Step 1: If any one of the polynomials contains more than one term, then first apply the distributive law of multiplication to multiply each term in one polynomial by each term in the other polynomial.

Step 2: Using the laws of exponents, add the powers of the same variables.

Step 3: Add or subtract the like terms and then simplify to get the final results.

Multiplying Polynomials using Exponents Law

When we multiply two terms in which the same variables are present, we use the laws of exponents.

a^m  × aⁿ = a^{m + n}

Note that we multiply the coefficients of the variables separately. 

Example: $11 x^{2} \times 2x^{5} = 22x^{7}$

Multiplying Polynomials with Different or Mixed Variables

It is not necessary that the polynomials being multiplied should be in the same variable. If the two polynomials have different or mixed variables, we use the following rules.

• Multiply all the coefficients. 
• Apply the exponent rules when multiplying the same variables.
• Other variables are simply multiplied together in the answer.

Example:

$4x^{2}\;y \times 3yz = 12x^{2}\;y^{2}\;z$

$2x \times (\;-\; 5)xy \times 7z = \;-\; 70x^{2}\;yz$

How To Multiply Polynomials

To learn how to multiply polynomials, we will discuss different categories, such as

• Multiplying monomials
• Multiplying binomials
• Multiplying a monomial and a binomial
• Multiplying a binomial and a trinomial

This way it will be easier to understand how to approach different types of problems involving multiplying polynomials. Let’s discuss these cases in detail.

Multiplication of Monomials

Monomial is a polynomial containing only one term. This term can be a constant, a variable with a coefficient or a product of one or more variables with a coefficient.

Multiplication of Two Monomials

Here, we just have to multiply the single term of the first monomial by the single term of the other monomial. Multiply variables with variables, coefficients with coefficients, and combine the result. If both the monomials have the same variable then their exponents are added together.

Examples: 

$4x \times 5x = (4 \times 5) \times (x \times x) = 20x^{1+1} = 20x^{2}$

$8xy \times 7xy^{2} = (8 \times 7) \times (x \times x) \times (y \times y^{2}) = 56\; x^{2}\;y^{3}$

Multiplication of Three Monomials

Here, we multiply three terms together. We can multiply three monomials by applying the same method as multiplying two monomials.

Examples:

$4x \times 5x \times 6x = (4 \times 5 \times 6) \times (x \times x \times x) = 120x^{1+1+1} = 120x^{3}$

$x \times 6xy \times xyz = (1 \times 6)(x \times x \times x) \times z = 6x^{3}\;y^{2}\;z$

Multiplication of Binomials

A binomial is a polynomial with only two terms. To multiply binomials, we use the distributive property of multiplication. We first multiply the first term of the first binomial by each term of the second binomial. Next, we multiply the second term of the first binomial by each term of the second binomial. Finally, we combine all the results using the operators.

The mnemonic FOIL can be used to remember and understand the pattern used in the multiplying binomials.

F: First terms 

O: Outer terms 

I: Inner terms 

L: Last terms

Multiplying Binomials Using Distributive Property

Multiplication of a binomial $(a + b)$ with a binomial $(c + d)$ can be given as

$(a + b) \times (c + d) = a \times (c + d) + b \times (c + d)$

          $= ac + ad + bc + bd$

Example:

$(x \;-\; 2y ) \times (x^{3} + yz) = x(x^{3} + yz) \;-\; 2y(x^{3} + yz)$

$ = x^{4} + xyz \;-\; 2x^{3}\;y\;-\;2y^{2}\;z$

Multiplying Binomials Using the Box Method

We can multiply two binomials using the box method. Write the individual terms of two binomials along the rows and columns of a 22 box. Every cell contains the product of the terms it represents along the row and the column. Add all the products together to get the final result.

Example: (x–2)(y+xz)

	x	$\;-\;2$
y	xy	$\;-\;2y$
xz	x2z	$\;-\;2xz$

$(x \;-\; 2)(y + xz) = x^{2}\;z + xy \;-\; 2xz \;-\; 2y$

How to Multiply a Monomial with a Binomial

To multiply a monomial with a binomial use the distributive property of multiplication.

Multiplication of a monomial a with a binomial $(b + c)$ can be given as

$a(b + c) = (a \times b) + (a \times c)$

Example:

$2x \times (x + y) = 2x \times x + 2x \times y = 2x^{2} + 2xy$

How to Multiply Binomial with a Trinomial

A binomial (m + n) can be multiplied with a trinomial $(a + b + c)$ as

$(m + n) \times (a + b + c) = \left[m (a + b + c)\right] + \left[n (a + b + c)\right]$

       $= am + bm + cm +  an + bn + cn$

Example:

$2xy \times (x + 5y + z) = 2x^{2}\;y + 2xyz$

Polynomial Long Multiplication

The horizontal multiplication method is convenient to use when we are dealing with small polynomials. However, if we wish to multiply polynomials having three or more terms, we can prefer the long multiplication method. It is exactly the same as the method of long multiplication for numbers.

Let’s understand with an example.

Example: $(y^{2} + 2y \;-\; 1) \times (y + 5)$

Facts about Multiplying Polynomials

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the multiplication of polynomials with the help of different cases. Let’s solve a few examples and practice problems to recall and revise these concepts.

Solved Examples on Multiplying Polynomials

1. Find the product of $4x$ and $9x$.

Solution:

We have to multiply two monomials $4x$ and $9x$.

Required product $=4x \times 9x$

     $=(4 \times 9)x^{1+1}$

     $=36x^{2}$

2. Find the product of $p$, $3p$, and $5p + q$.

Solution:

$p \times 3p \times (5p + q) = 3 \times 5 \times p \times p \times (5p + q)$

        $=15p^{2} \times (5p + q)$

        $= (15p^{2} \times 5p) + (15p^{2} + q)$

         $= 75p^{3} + 15p^{2} \;q$

3. Multiply the two binomials: $(x^{2} + 7x)(x + 1)$.

Verify the answer using the box method.

Solution:

$(x^{2} + 7x)(x + 1) = x^{2}(x + 1) + 7x (x + 1)$

                 $= x^{3} + x^{2} + 7x^{2} + 7x$

                 $= x^{3} + 8×2 + 7x$

Box method:

	$x^{2}$	7x
x	$x^{3}$	$7x^{2}$
1	$x^{2}$	7x

$\bigg(x^{2} + 7x \bigg)(x +1) = x^{3} + x^{2} + 7x^{2} + 7x = x^{3} + 8x^{2}$

4. Find the product of y and $(3y + 2)$.

Solution:

Let’s multiply the monomial y and binomial $(3y + 2)$.

Required product $= y(3y + 2) = (3y \times y) + 2y = 3y^{2} + 2y$

5. Find the product of $(x + 1)$ and $(x + 4)$.

Solution: 

Required product $= (x + 1)(x + 4)$

     $=x (x + 4) + 1(x + 4)$

     $=x \times x + 4x + x + 4$

     $= x^{2} + 5x + 4$

6. Multiply $(2x^{2} + 5)(x^{2} \;-\; 3x + 2)$ using long multiplication.

Solution:

Practice Problems on Multiplying Polynomials

Frequently Asked Questions on Multiplying Polynomials