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

[Sparrow]

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

I didn't know what it was at first, but that was because I had no idea what the hell FOIL was. I'm thinking it's an American thing. However, when I used the method I was taught, I seemed to have the same answer as your OP. And by "seemed" I mean, "I didn't write it down."

 

[NiPah]

Couldn't do it.

 

[Phenakist]

This is GCSE standard... this was one of my strong points (An A in GCSE maths making itself useful for the first time)

Spoiler: Answer

x^2+6x+9

 

[magicman4443]

I'm still in high school and this problem is just plain simple. College can be a damaging place for people's educations only because you focus in too much on one subject to the exclusion of all others.

Spoiler

I would assume it's x^2 + 6x + 9

 

[Asturiel]

Question is

(x+3)^2 right?

So the answer is x^2+6x+9 correct?

 

[CD-R]

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.

If you get a Scientific job like something in Chemistry or Physics stuff like this comes up.

 

[fogmike]

Oh God.....that's VERY depressing, that statistic. Right. I'm 15, and this is PISS. Just saying.

Spoiler

x[sup]2[/sup]+6x+9

EDIT: Actually I think I first learned that at 12 years old. Besides the point, did anyone else use superscript? Cos I hate the whole x^2 thing. I much prefer x[sup]2[/sup].

 

[sanomaton]

This is too easy. These were taught to us in my first year of high school and it got MUCH harder after that.

Spoiler

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

 

[Woodsey]

Spoiler

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

Oui?

That's piss easy: that'd be pretty much the second question they'd ever give you in a maths lesson when starting that.

 

[Jodah]

What is scarier to me is that most college students in the United States do not know how our government works. Most people will never have to expand an equation in their work. However, in order to actually influence change they must understand how government works. Look at the last presidential election. If you take a poll of college students across the country I promise you most people would say they voted for Obama because he is black or different, not because they thought he was the best choice. (Note : This is not meant to start a political debate, I do not care who people vote for. That is their own choice. What I do care about is their reason for voting as they do.)

 

[wildpeaks]

I know SOHCAHTOA, though.

Is he an Ancient One from R'lyeh ?

 

[Craftybonds]

Even so, almost every major that i can think of requires Algebra I at minimum.

If thats the case than it seems that colleges in America are incredibly limited. Do colleges not deal with the less heavy number subjects such as Language courses, philosophy, history etc? Why would such course need Algebra anyway?

Most colleges have a set list of general elective requirements, so most students are required to take classes that are not important to their major, but would probably help them out later in life. so a philosopher might have to take a single math class, and a chemist might be required to take a class on literature. it's for the culturization of an individual, if nothing else.

and before you say it, oh i agree, it is a waste of time.

 

[TheGreenManalishi]

The way you wrote it out is highly unclear. That stuff is a piece of piss.

 

[RvLeshrac]

Those of us who:

a) have a clue
b) don't have any use for advanced maths in our occupations

simply refer to any of the THOUSANDS of applications, websites, and calculators that exist to solve these problems, in the rare case that they come up. Faster than you.

My answer? http://twitpic.com/1brqqr
(By the way, that's [F2,3,(,x,+,3,),^,2,),Enter])

 

[Craftybonds]

I've studied algebra in three different places and not once have I heard "FOIL" being used.

It's a useless term, it means First Inner Outter Last. it's basically meant so that children can learn to distribute properly.

 

[fogmike]

Those of us who:

a) have a clue
b) don't have any use for advanced maths in our occupations

simply refer to any of the THOUSANDS of applications, websites, and calculators that exist to solve these problems, in the rare case that they come up. Faster than you.

My answer? http://twitpic.com/1brqqr

BS. Took me five seconds in my head.

 

[Hubbe]

There is actually a simple rule to this...

Spoiler

(a+b)^2 = a^2 + 2ab + b^2

And here in Finland, I learnt that in 7th grade. TAKE THAT.
(Nowadays, I don't even have to remember it. Or any other math formulas either.)
(We get a fancy book full of them, to use for tests and just regular math-work)

 

[LornMind]

Freshman college student. Got this right. Wootle.

 

[f0re1gn]

Spoiler

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

and, while studying genetics on my 2nd year, i still remember what to do with f'.

keeping your brain alive is a very important thing.