Algebra: Chapter 6, Lesson 7, page 283.
Factoring: A General Strategy
To factor polynomials:
- Always look first for a common factor
- Then look at the number of terms
- 2 terms – determine whether you have a difference of 2 squares
- 3 terms – determine whether the trinomial is a square of a binomial. If not, test the factors of the terms.
- Always factor completely!
Use all the strategies we’ve learned so far to factor a variety of problems. Don’t forget to use:
- Monomial factorization (lesson 6-1)
- The differences of 2 squares (lesson 6-2), `(a^2 – b^2) = (a – b)(a + b)`
- Trinomial squares (lesson 6-3), `a^2 + 2ab + b^2 = (a + b)^2` or with a negative `(-2ab)`
- The BOX METHOD (lesson 6-4 and 6-5) for `x^2 + bx + c` or `ax^2 + bx + c` type of equations
- Factoring by grouping (lesson 6-6) for polynomials with 4 or more terms.
The toughest part is figuring out what technique to use! Go slow and you’ll be OK!