A polynomial equation with two terms usually joined by a plus or minus sign is called a binomial. Binomials are used in algebra. Polynomials with one term will be called a monomial and could look like 7x. A polynomial with two terms is called a binomial; it could look like 3x + 9. It is easy to remember binomials as bi means 2 and a binomial will have 2 terms.
A classic example is the following: 3x + 4 is a binomial and is also a polynomial, 2a(a+b) 2 is also a binomial (a and b are the binomial factors).
The above are both binomials.
When multiplying binomials, you'll come across a term called the FOIL method which is often just the method used to multiply binomials.
For instance, to find the product of 2 binomials, you'll add the products of the First terms, the Outer terms, the Inner terms, and the Last terms.
When you're asked to square a binomial, it simply means to multiply it by itself. The square of a binomial will be a trinomial. The product of two binomials will be a trinomial.
Example of Multiplying Binomials
(5 + 4x) x (3 + 2x)
(5 + 4x) (3 + 2x)
= (5) (3) + (5) (2x) + (4x) (3) + (4x) (2i)
= 15 + 10x + 12x + 8 (x) 2 = 15 + 22x + 8 (-1)
= 15 + 22x - 8 = (15 - 8) + 22x = 7 + 22x
Once you begin taking algebra in school, you'll be doing a great many computations that require binomials and polynomials.
