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How do you FOIL #(y - 1/2) (y + 1/2)#?

Answer 1

Ethan Adkins

#y^2-1/4#

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Answer 2

Kennedy Adams

FOIL stands for First, Outer, Inner, Last. To FOIL the expression (y - 1/2)(y + 1/2), you multiply the First terms, then the Outer terms, followed by the Inner terms, and finally the Last terms.

First: y * y = y^2 Outer: y * (1/2) = (1/2)y Inner: (-1/2) * y = (-1/2)y Last: (-1/2) * (1/2) = -1/4

Putting it all together, you get: y^2 + (1/2)y - (1/2)y - 1/4

Simplifying, the middle terms cancel each other out: y^2 - 1/4

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.