40% of College Students get this question wrong. AND IT MAKES ME ANGRY!

[buggy65]

Spoiler

(x+3)^2 is (x+3)(x+3). When you FOIL that out, you get x^2+6x+9.

Maybe people just didn't know what "FOIL" was. I've had teachers who have called it other things, or even used different methods, but still got the same result. And, for that matter, what college did they conduct this "study" at? I sense a conspiracy!

My college. While I don't want to get any backlash from the University, I can tell you it is located in Pennsylvania

 

[SamElliot'sMustache]

Spoiler

x^2+9

Spoiler

Oops, got it wrong, forgot that squaring it means you multiply the whole equation twice as well. *grumbles about how I used to be good at algebra*

 

[AnonymsWarrior]

But did anyone spot that is a perfect square and solve it in a quarter of the time?

 

[Bat Vader]

I can understand why people fail it. Not everyone is going to be good at something. I can do some algebra problems but they usually take me ten minutes to figure out. I just do not grasp higher level math. It confuses me.

Reading is my talent though. Give me book of all of Poe's work and I will get it done in 5 days to a week. In elementary school they said my reading was at high school level. Which is odd because my left eye is a lazy eye.

 

[Fox242]

Dude, I'm studying to receieve a major in History. I don't need to know what how to FOIL. I need to be able to know about Roman emperors, shoguns, the Rennisance, the history of American foreign policy, etc. As far as math goes, I don't need to know anything other than the basics. 40% of college students not knowing how to FOIL is not something to freak out about.

 

[Emphraim]

Spoiler

X^2+6X+9

Granted I'm in tenth grade, so I have learned this a shorter while ago than people applying to college, but that statistic still is disconcerting.

But i would never be play to forget FOIL thanks to this guy.

Spoiler

 

[buggy65]

i have to respond to this with a question. Who cares? its the same argument i gave to my teachers back in high school, it never comes into practical everyday use, so it's useless outside of studies.

Ask the military. They will tell you how useful it is in ordinance and R&D.

Foil means "first, outer, inner, last" and it's just a simply way of remembering how one multiplies the two parts of an equation like this. I know how to do it quite simply, but ironically am unsure how to make a spoiler box. I'll answer in a way that should let those who know how to do it know that i know, but not give the answer away. 1 6 9 ...but then again, I'm a college grad and I majored in Astronomy and Physics, so continued use of math was pretty integral (no pun intended) to my continued education.

I don't care if the pun is intended, it is still is funny to me. I am an Industrial Math major so half of my classes are Physics. Woot!

 

[iDayman]

Well, I wasn't sure what FOIL means, as I usually refer to it as "expanding" or some variation thereof, but I did know the answer.

Edit: Also, there are a lot of people who study fake majors (like Art, Music, etc), and they don't tend, or need, much in the way of math classes so it's somewhat understandable. Depressing, but understandable.

Lol @ the "fake majors" bit -- A Bachelor of Music degree is one of the most difficult a person can achieve. In most majors, a class meeting five hours per week would grant 5 units. In music, the units are cut down so new and additional classes can be added to the requirements without the university going over the maximum units per major. That makes the 200 units at 1-2 units per class even more impressive when you think about it. It also boasts the lowest completion rate of ANY bachelors program, at least in the United States.

I am about to graduate with a Bachelors of Music Performance from a top music school, and in addition, am also almost guaranteed a spot in any med program I want, with a MSAT score in the 90th percentile, as well as many law and medical schools giving preference to students with Bachelors in Music, due to them being recognized as such a difficult degree to attain, needing a huge amount of dedication and work to pursue and complete.

I hope you enjoyed your easy bachelors, and most likely no post baccalaureate work at all.

Spoiler

EDIT: Forgot to post the answer to the question: x^2+6x+9, and I havent taken any real math courses besides calc since high school.

 

[Ibanez887]

X^2+6x+9
Pretty easy to me, but Im taking geometry in High School so I cant say much

 

[Erana]

Well, I wasn't sure what FOIL means, as I usually refer to it as "expanding" or some variation thereof, but I did know the answer.

Edit: Also, there are a lot of people who study fake majors (like Art, Music, etc), and they don't tend, or need, much in the way of math classes so it's somewhat understandable. Depressing, but understandable.

"Fake?"
FAKE?

As an art major, I work my ass off. Ask anyone in the IRC; I'm always doing working. I'm here taking a break from doing art, then going back for more.

I'm sorry, but if you seriously think that the arts aren't real majors, you obviously know nothing about it.
If the OP gets to say that people not knowing foil makes him mad, then I am taking the liberty of saying that people insulting something they know nothing about makes me mad.


But yeah, first, inner, out, last. Makes me think of the fencing impliment. But isn't it more people not knowing PEMDAS?

 

[StBishop]

I haven't heard of foil. I was taught something else which I forgot the name of but even so I don't understand the question after reading the explainations given. I studied Biomedical Science a couple of years ago and didn't enjoy it (Now I'm studying Education and Science), Math was my best subject.

I'll have to see what I was taught and get back to you.

Edit: I was taught Bomdas or Bodmas

Also:

Spoiler

(x+3)^2 = X^2 + 6X + 9

 

[iTeamKill]

I've got a bachelor degree and I don't even understand the question!

Mind you, I'm qualified in a profession that doesn't need this type of calculation.

Must be a politician...


Zing!

On a serious note, everyone I graduated with in HS could do this. but I didn't go to public school either... God bless catholic schools in america. The only schools left untainted by over zealous teachers unions. (also they do teach about evolution so don't bother...)

 

[mad825]

College is supposed to be a place of higher learning. To get into college you must also pass high school and a number of exams. Yet, based on a recent campus wide survey conducted at my school 40% of college students cannot FOIL. I am a math major and this saddens and angers me. So Escapist, I ask you:

FOIL: (x+3)^2
EDIT: FOIL also means Expand...

Please put your answers in spoiler tags so people can't cheat without actively looking. To do a spoiler tag you place [mathspoiler]{content}[/mathspoiler] but remove the "math" part.

Remember, 40 freakin' percent fail at this. Try not to be one of them.

The correct answer is

Spoiler

{x^2+6x+9}

and well I wonder why.........

I am doing A-levels (national btec) in IT and me knowing that would out of pleasure rather than a requirement

EDIT: no, I wouldn't have a flipping clue without cheating ^.^ besides I want to know about computers rather than some poxy math equation

 

[manaman]

This is Algebra I stuff. It is taught in High School!

Yeah but I'm 35. I forgot all that crap nearly 20 years ago because it's not used in the field that I now work in. My brain keeps the useful knowledge and discards the other stuff.

I here you on that one. I work in a horribly math heavy field, still the last time I touched on anything like this was years ago. I remember what I need, and can look anything else up.

On topic:
That's not all that surprising to me. You don't need 90% of the math they say you will, if you need anything more then basic math at all. The stuff you don't use on a regular basis has a way of drifting to the dark recesses of your mind. I want sources through, so I can look at the study itself rather then the title you have. It's a travesty how many of these studies have a transparent agenda behind them, and I would rather see what they where asking, and where they where asking, then what they want me to think the results showed.

 

[presidentjlh]

How pathetic...

(x+3)^2 =

Spoiler

x^2 + 6x + 9

I learned shit like that in the 8th grade.

 

[Cakes]

That's kinda hard to believe, isn't this about 9th Grade level math?

Anyway,
(x+3)^2
(x+3)(x+3)
x^2+3x+3x+9
x^2+6x+9

Yes, I make a habit of showing every step of my work, since my pre-calculus teacher is a raging ***** about that.Still, for many people it's not like this is something they'll ever need to know. Since I plan mostly on furthering my multi-lingualism (or maybe music, I love me some percussion), math can piss off.

 

[Tasachan]

Something that got pushed to the back of my mind. I remember learning it, but... yeah. I couldn't do it either.

Its been a few years since high school, and I'm majoring in a social science branch (criminology) so I really don't need it.

 

[buggy65]

This is Algebra I stuff. It is taught in High School!

Yeah but I'm 35. I forgot all that crap nearly 20 years ago because it's not used in the field that I now work in. My brain keeps the useful knowledge and discards the other stuff.

I here you on that one. I work in a horribly math heavy field, still the last time I touched on anything like this was years ago. I remember what I need, and can look anything else up.

On topic:
That's not all that surprising to me. You don't need 90% of the math they say you will, if you need anything more then basic math at all. The stuff you don't use on a regular basis has a way of drifting to the dark recesses of your mind. I want sources through, so I can look at the study itself rather then the title you have. It's a travesty how many of these studies have a transparent agenda behind them, and I would rather see what they where asking, and where they where asking, then what they want me to think the results showed.

The survey was sent to us online thanks to our school paper. They reported over 5,000 responded. I thought the results would have been lower than 40%. Then I began tutoring students in their math classes and I saw that the number is not exaggerated. Granted, I DO go to a state school.

 

[Caligulove]

I dont remember the acronym of FOIL but I do remember something like multiplying binomials.

And while I do think that some basic understanding of higher level math is important... I know a lot of friends that go into fields that will never use these kinds of calculations in their life, because they're not interested in the subject.

It's a pity. But it also goes to show that a lot of students are choosing majors that differ away from Math and Science in general. Which I think is the real pity... ):