Subject:
Guide to Factoring 1) Factor out the GCF (always factoring out at least a ?1 if needed). 2) Factor the remaining polynomial based on the number of terms: two terms Difference of two squares ? a2 ? b2 If so, factor it as (a+ b)(a ? b) OR Difference or sum of two cubes A3 + B3 = (A + B)(A2 ? AB + B2) A3 ? B3 = (A ? B)(A2 + AB + B2) three terms Perfect Square Trinomial ? a2 + 2ab + b2 or a2 ? 2ab + b2 If so, factor it as (a + b)2 if the middle term in positive and (a? b)2 if the middle term is negative. Trinomial ? x2 + bx + c (no coefficient on the leading term) If so, find two numbers with product = c and sum = b Factor the trinomial as (x + ?)(x + ?), putting those two numbers in for the ??s. Trinomial ? ax2 + bx + c (coefficient on the leading term)
