Factoring Polynomials

GCF

Short for Greatest Common Factor

how to find the GCF

To find the GCF of a set of numbers, list all the factors of each number. The greatest factor appearing on every list is the GCF. For example, to find the GCF of 6 and 15, first list all the factors of each number.

Trinomial Factoring

When factoring a simple trinomial this is the formula.

(ax2 + bx + c)

for PST or called PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIAL this is the formula.

(a2 + 2ab + b2) = (a + b)2
(a2 - 2ab + b2) = (a - b)2

DIFFERENCE OF SQUARES

When an expression can be viewed as the difference of two perfect squares.

We can factor it as: (a2 – b2) = (a + b)(a – b)

Factoring by Grouping

we can factor a polynomial by grouping, first group the first two terms together, and then the last two terms together. secondly, factor out a GCF from each separate binomial. Lastly factor out the common binomial.