INTRODUCTION TO FACTORING

Factoring is the reverse process of multiplication.

When a number or polynomial is factored, it is written as a product of
two or more factors.
Factoring completely: A polynomial is factored completely if each of
its factors can no longer be expressed as a product of two other
polynomials of lower degree and that the coefficients have no
common factor.
Methods of Factorizing Polynomials:
A. Common Monomial Factoring
Steps:
1. Find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of the terms in the polynomial.
This is the first factor.
2. Divide each term by the GCF to get the other factor.
Ex: a.
b.
c.

3 x+3 y =3 ( x + y )
2
6 x+ 3 x =3 x ( 2 )+ 3 x ( x ) =3 x ( 2+ x )

( 5 x3 ) ( x y )+ 2 x ( x y )=( x y ) ( 5 x3+2 x ) =( x y ) (7 x3)

B. Grouping Terms
Steps:
1. Group the first two terms together and the last two terms together.
2. Apply common monomial factoring.
Ex: a.
b.

5 x2 3 x +5 xy3 y= x ( 5 x3 ) + y ( 5 x3 )=( 5 x3 ) ( x+ y )
6 ah2h6 ak + 2k =2 ( 3 ahh3 ak + k )=2 [ h ( 3 a1 ) k (3 a1) ]
2 ( 3 a1 ) (hk )

c.

5 x2 y5 x 2+ xyx+ y1=5 x 2 ( y1 ) + x ( y1 )+ ( y 1 )
( y1 ) (5 x 2+ x +1)

MATH 8
INTRODUCTION TO FACTORING

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