Question

i DONT UNDERSTAND HOW TO FACTOR

Answer 1

1. Look at the equation. Ask yourself this: Is this equation a difference of squares, a sum or difference of cubes, a perfect-square trinomial, or needs to be factored another way?

Answer 2

2. Look at the form of the equation. If it is in the form x2+bx+c=0, read this step, for there is a shortcut: Find the two numbers that multiply to c and add to b. Once you find these two numbers (or fractions, beware), place them in these parentheses: (x+ )(x+ ). (Hint: If the trinomial is in the form x2-bx+c, your answer is in this form: (x- )(x- ). If it is in the form x2+bx+c, your answer looks like this: (x+ )(x+ ). If it is in the form x2-bx-c, you answer is in the form (x+ )(x- ).)

Answer 3

3. If the equation is in the form ax2+bx+c (a>1), find the two numbers that multiply to ac and add to b. From here, substitute b with the two numbers obtained in the last step and FACTOR BY GROUPING (factoring by GCF).

Answer 4

4. If the trinomial is in the form a2-b2, the answer is (a+b)(a-b).

Answer 5

5. If the trinomial is in the form a2+2ab+b2, the factored form is (a+b)2. If the trinomial is in the form a2-2ab+b2, the factored form is (a-b)2.

Answer 6

6. If the equation is in the form a3-b3, the factored form is (a-b)(a2+ab+b2). If the equation is in the form a3+b3, the factored form is (a+b)(a2-ab+b2).