Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

GRADE 7 MATH TEACHING GUIDE

Lesson 25: Special Products Time: 3.5 hours

Pre-requisite Concepts: Addition and Multiplication of Polynomials
Objectives:
In this lesson, you are expected to:
find (a) inductively, using models and (b) algebraically the
1. product of two binomials
2. product of a sum and difference of two terms
3. square of a binomial
4. cube of a binomial
5. product of a binomial and a trinomial
Lesson Proper:
A. Product of two binomials
I. Activity
Prepare three sets of algebra tiles by cutting them out from a page of newspaper or art paper. If you are using newspaper, color
the tiles from the first set black, the second set red and the third set yellow.

This activity uses algebra tiles to find a general formula for the product of two binomials. Have the students bring several
pages of newspaper and a pair of scissors in class. Ask them to cut at least 3 sheets of paper in the following pattern. Have them color
the pieces from one sheet black, the second red and the last one yellow.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

Problem:

1. What is the area of a square whose sides are 2cm?

2. What is the area of a rectangle with a length of 3cm and a width of 2cm?

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

3. Demonstrate the area of the figures using algebra tiles.

Solution:

1. 2cm x 2cm = 4cm2

2. 3cm x 2cm = 6cm2

3.

Tell the students that the large squares have dimensions of x units, the rectangles are x units by 1 unit and the small squares have a
side length of 1 unit.

Review with the students the area of a square and a rectangle. Have them determine the area of the large square, the rectangle
and the small square.

Problem:

1. What are the areas of the different kinds of algebra tiles?

2. Form a rectangle with a length of x + 2 and a width of x + 1 using the algebra tiles. What is the area of the rectangle?

Solution:

1. x2, x and 1 square units.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

2.
The area is the sum of all the areas of the algebra tiles.
Area = x2 + x + x + x + 1 + 1 = x2 + 3x + 2

Ask the students what the product of x + 1 and x + 2 is. Once they answer x2 + 3x + 2, ask them again, why is it the same as the
area of the rectangle. Explain that the area of a rectangle is the product of its length and its width and if the dimensions are represented
by binomials, then the area of the rectangle is equivalent to the product of the two binomials.

Problem:

1. Use algebra tiles to find the product of the following:

a.
b.
c.
2. How can you represent the difference x – 1 using algebra tiles?

Solution:

1.
a.
b.
c.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

2. You should use black colored tiles to denote addition and red colored tiles to denote subtraction.

Problem:

1. Use algebra tiles to find the product of the following:

a.
b.
c.
d.

Solution:

1.

The students should realize that the yellow squares indicate that they have subtracted that area twice using the red figures and
they should “add them” back again to get the product.
2.
3.
4.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

II. Questions to Ponder

1. Using the concept learned in algebra tiles what is the area of the rectangle shown below?

2. Derive a general formula for the product of two binomials .

The area of the rectangle is equivalent to the product of which is . This is the general formula for
the product of two binomials . This general form is sometimes called the FOIL method where the letters of FOIL stand
for first, outside, inside, and last.

Example: Find the product of (x + 3) (x + 5)

First: x . x = x2
Outside: x . 5 = 5x

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

Inside: 3 . x = 3x
Last: 3 . 5 = 15

(x + 3) (x + 5) = x2 + 5x + 3x + 15 = x2 + 8x + 15

III. Exercises

Find the product using the FOIL method. Write your answers on the spaces provided:

1. (x + 2) (x + 7) x2 + 9x + 14
2. (x + 4) (x + 8) x2 + 12x + 32
3. (x – 2) (x – 4) x2 – 6x + 24
4. (x – 5) (x + 1) x2 – 4x - 5
5. (2x + 3) (x + 5) 2x2 + 13x + 15
6. (3x – 2) (4x + 1) 12x2 – 5x - 2
7. (x2 + 4) (2x – 1) 2x3 – x2 + 8x - 4
8. (5x3 + 2x) (x2 – 5) 5x5 -23x3 – 10x
9. (4x + 3y) (2x + y) 8x2 + 10xy + 3y2
10. (7x – 8y) (3x + 5y) 21x2 + 11xy – 40y2

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

B. product of a sum and difference of two terms

I. Activity

1. Use algebra tiles to find the product of the following:

a. (x + 1) (x – 1)
b. (x + 3) (x – 3)
c. (2x – 1) (2x + 1)
d. (2x – 3) (2x + 3)
2. Use the FOIL method to find the products of the above numbers.

The algebra tiles should be arranged in this form.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

The students should notice that for each multiplication there are an equal number of black and red rectangles. This means that
they “cancel” out each other. Also, the red small squares form a bigger square whose dimensions are equal to the last term in the
factors.

Answers

1. x2 + x – x – 1 = x2 – 1
2. x2 + 3x – 3x – 9 = x2 – 9
3. 4x2 + 2x – 2x – 1 = 4x2 – 1
4. 4x2 + 6x – 6x – 9 = 4x2 – 9

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

II. Questions to Ponder

1. What are the products?

2. What is the common characteristic of the factors in the activity?
3. Is there a pattern for the products for these kinds of factors? Give the rule.

Concepts to Remember

The factors in the activity are called the sum and difference of two terms. Each binomial factor is made up of two terms. One
factor is the sum of the terms and the other factor being their difference. The general form is (a + b) (a – b).

The product of the sum and difference of two terms is given by the general formula
(a + b) (a – b) = a2 – b2.

III. Exercises

Find the product of each of the following:

1. (x – 5) (x + 5) x2 - 25
2. (x + 2) (x – 2) x2 - 4
3. (3x – 1) (3x + 1) 9x2 - 1
4. (2x + 3) (2x – 3) 4x2 - 9
5. (x + y2) (x – y2) x2 – y4
6. (x2 – 10)(x2 + 10) x4 - 100
7. (4xy + 3z3) (4xy – 3z3) 16x2y2 – 9z6
8. (3x3 – 4)(3x3 + 4) 9x6 - 16
9. [(x + y) - 1] [(x + y) + 1] (x + y)2 – 1 = x2 + 2xy + y2 - 1
10. (2x + y – z) (2x + y + z) (2x + y)2 – z2 = 4x2 + 4xy + y2 – z2

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

C. square of a binomial

I. Activity

1. Using algebra tiles, find the product of the following:

a. (x + 3) (x + 3)
b. (x – 2) (x – 2)
c. (2x + 1) (2x + 1)
d. (2x – 1) (2x – 1)
2. Use the FOIL method to find their products.

Answers:

1. x2 + 6x + 9
2. x2 – 4x + 4
3. 4x2 + 4x + 1
4. 4x2 - 4x + 1

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

II. Questions to Ponder

1. Find another method of expressing the product of the given binomials.

2. What is the general formula for the square of a binomial?
3. How many terms are there? Will this be the case for all squares of binomials? Why?
4. What is the difference between the square of the sum of two terms from the square of the difference of the same two terms?

Concepts to Remember

The square of a binomial is the product of a binomial when multiplied to itself. The square of a binomial has a
general formula, .

The students should know that the outer and inner terms using the FOIL method will be identical and can be combined to form
one term. This means that the square of a binomial will always have three terms. Furthermore, they should realize that the term b2 is
always positive while the sign of the middle term 2ab depends on whether the binomials are sums or differences.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

III. Exercises

Find the squares of the following binomials.

1. (x + 5)2 x2 + 10x + 25
2. (x - 5)2 x2 – 10x + 25
3. (x + 4)2 x2 + 8x + 16
4. (x – 4)2 x2 – 8x + 16
5. (2x + 3)2 4x2 + 12x + 9
6. (3x - 2)2 9x2 – 12x + 4
7. (4 – 5x)2 16 – 40x + 25x2
8. (1 + 9x)2 1 + 18x + 81x2
9. (x2 + 3y)2 x4 + 6x2y + 9y2
10. (3x3 – 4y2)2 9x6 – 24x6y4 + 16y4

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

D. Cube of a binomial

I. Activity

A. The cube of the binomial (x + 1) can be expressed as (x + 1)3. This is equivalent to

(x + 1)(x + 1)(x + 1).

1. Show that (x + 1)2 = x2 + 2x + 1.

2. How are you going to use the above expression to find (x + 1)3?
3. What is the expanded form of (x + 1)3?

Answers:

1. By using special products for the square of a binomial, we can show that (x + 1)2 = x2 + 2x + 1.
2. (x + 1)3 = (x + 1)2(x + 1) = (x2 + 2x + 1)(x + 1)
3. (x + 1)3 = x3 + 3x2 + 3x + 1

B. Use the techniques outlined above, to find the following:

1. (x + 2)2
2. (x – 1)2
3. (x – 2)2

Answers:

1. x3 + 6x2 + 12x + 8
2. x3 – 3x2 + 3x – 1
3. x3 – 6x2 + 12x – 8

This activity is meant to present the students with several simple examples of finding the cube of a binomial. They should then
analyze the answers to identify the pattern and the general rule in finding the cube of a binomial.

II. Questions to Ponder

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

1. How many terms are there in each of the cubes of binomials?

2. Compare your answers in numbers 1 and 2?
a. What are similar with the first term? How are they different?
b. What are similar with the second terms? How are they different?
c. What are similar with the third terms? How are they different?
d. What are similar with the fourth terms? How are they different?
3. Craft a rule for finding the cube of the binomial in the form (x + a)3. Use this rule to find (x + 3)3. Check by using the method
outlined in the activity.
4. Compare numbers 1 and 3 and numbers 2 and 4.
a. What are the similarities for each of these pairs?
b. What are their differences?
5. Craft a rule for finding the cube of a binomial in the form (x –a )3. Use this rule to find (x – 4)3.
6. Use the method outlined in the activity to find (2x + 5)3. Can you apply the rule you made in number 3 for getting the cube of
this binomial? If not, modify your rule and use it to find
(4x + 1)3.

Answers:

1. The cube of a binomial has four terms.

2. First, make sure that the students write the expanded form in standard form.
a. The first terms are the same. They are both x3.
b. The second terms have the same degree, x2. Their coefficients are different. (3 and 6).
c. The third terms have the same degree, x. Their coefficients are 3 and 12.
d. The fourth terms are both constants. The coefficients are 1 and 8.

Make sure that the students notice that the ratio of the coefficients of the terms are 1, 2, 4 and 8. These correspond to the
powers of the second term 20, 21, 22, and 23.

3. . Thus,
4. The pairs have similar terms, except that the second and fourth terms of (x-a)3 are negative while those of (x+a)3 are positive.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

5. . Thus, .
6. From numbers, 3 and 5, we can generalize the formula to . In (2x + 5)3, a = 2x and b = 5. Thus,

Concepts to Remember

The cube of a binomial has the general form, .

III. Exercises

Expand.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Answers

1.
2.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

D. Product of a binomial and a trinomial

I. Activity

In the previous activity, we have tried multiplying a trinomial with a binomial. The resulting product then had four terms. But,
the product of a trinomial and a binomial does not always give a product of four terms.

1. Find the product of and .

2. How many terms are in the product?

Answers:

The product is x3 + 1 and it has two terms. Tell the students that the product is a sum of two cubes and can be written as x3 +
13.
3. What trinomial should be multiplied to to get ?

Answers

The other factor should be x2 + x + 1. This question can be done step-by-step analytically. First, ask the students what the first
term should be and why. They should realize that the first term can only be x2, since multiplying it by x from (x – 1) is the only way to
get x3. Then, ask them what the last term should be and why. The only possible answer is 1, since that is the only way to get -1 in (x3 –
1) by multiplying by -1 in (x – 1). They should then be able to get that the middle term should be +x.

4. Is there a trinomial that can be multiplied to x – 1 to get x3 + 1?

Answers

There is none. To get the sum of two cubes, one of the factors should be the sum of the terms. Similarly, explain that to get the
difference of two cubes, one of the factors should be the difference of the terms.

5. Using the methods outlined in the previous problems, what should be multiplied to x + 2 to get
x3 + 8? Multiplied to x – 3 to get x3 – 27?

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

II. Questions to Ponder

Answers

(x2 – 2x + 4)(x + 2) = x3 + 8 and (x2 + 3x + 9)(x - 3) = x3 – 27

1. What factors should be multiplied to get the product x3 + a3? x3 – a3?

Answers

2. What factors should be multiplied to get 27x3 + 8?

Answers

Make the students discover that the previous formula can be generalized to . 27x3 + 8 = (3x)3 + 23;
a = 3x and b = 2. Thus,
[(3x)2 – (3x)(2) + 22](3x + 2) = (9x2 – 6x + 4)(3x + 2) = 27x3 + 8

Concepts to Remember

The product of a trinomial and a binomial can be expressed as the sum or difference of two cubes if they are in the following
form.

III. Exercises

A. Find the product.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

B. What should be multiplied to the following to get a sum/difference of two cubes? Give the product.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Answers

A.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

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Grade 7 Math LESSON 25: SPECIAL PRODUCTS TEACHING GUIDE

6.

B.

1. ;
2. ;
3. ;
4. ;
5. ;
6. ;
7. ;
8. ;

Summary: You learned plenty of special products and techniques in solving problems that require special products.  

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