how to solve the factoring by groupings

Question

anonymous · Answer

$$ax^2 + bx + c$$

find two numbers u and v so that
$$u+v = b$$
$$u \times v = ac$$

$$ax^2 + ux + vx + c$$

and then just take the common factors out *.*

anonymous · Answer

When I am given something such as
$$ax ^{3} + ax^{2} + a + x$$,
I 'group' the first two terms, and the last two. 
Then factor each of them separately. 
The factors that came out of both groups are brought together to form a 3rd group to solve for. 

Hint* The degree of the expression should tell you how many answers you should get to solve for. Since this expression's degree is 3, you should look to have 3 groups. 

With the three groups, you just set each of them equal to 0 (also known as T-chart)
and solve!

Simple enough. :)