Expanding the Square: Solving (x + 2y)²
The expression (x + 2y)² represents the square of a binomial. To solve this, we need to expand it using the distributive property or the FOIL method.
Understanding the Formula:
The formula for squaring a binomial is:
(a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²
Applying the Formula:
- Identify a and b: In our case, a = x and b = 2y.
- Substitute into the formula: (x + 2y)² = x² + 2(x)(2y) + (2y)²
- Simplify: (x + 2y)² = x² + 4xy + 4y²
Therefore, the solution to (x + 2y)² is x² + 4xy + 4y².
Key Points:
- FOIL Method: You can also expand the expression using the FOIL method (First, Outer, Inner, Last).
- Visualizing the Solution: Think of (x + 2y)² as (x + 2y) multiplied by itself. When you visualize this multiplication, you can see how each term in the expansion is formed.
Remember: Always simplify your answer by combining like terms.