Sometimes a greatest common factor for a polynomial expression can be found before any terms are grouped. This can lead to parentheses inside of parentheses, which can be confusing. Using brackets as a substitute for a set of parentheses can help to...
Although a factor of one is not usually written in an expression, it sometimes helps to write it down in order to remember that it is part of the factor and can be used, as demonstrated in the example c2 - cd c - d.
A quadratic trinomial with a leading coefficient of 1 is factored, producing a four-term polynomial. The factor is then checked by multiplying using the FOIL method.
A quadratic trinomial is a polynomial with three terms. In two of the terms the same variable appears, one that is raised to the second power and the other with an exponent of one. The third term in a quadratic trinomial is a constant. To factor a q...
Factoring a quadratic trinomial with a leading coefficient greater than one.
A quadratic trinomial that cannot be factored is presented and explained.
Sometimes there is no way to rearrange or group that produces common factors. A polynomial that cannot be factored down to one term is said to be unfactorable.
Practice factoring: y2 12y 32.
There is often more than one way to group a polynomial expression for factoring. The commutative law can be applied to rearrange the terms into different factorable groups.
A polynomial with four terms can be factored by grouping when there is no factor common to all four terms. The procedure is demonstrated and the process checked using the FOIL method and applying the commutative law.