Question

Could anyone please explain what factoring polynomials means? I've read the lessons, but I still don't understand it.

Answer 1

Do you have an exercise to explain it over?

Answer 2

You mean like how it's trying to explain it?

Answer 3

If you have an example for a problem so we can show you what needs to be done. Because explaining polynomial factoring with words could be long and unclear.

Answer 4

Like it says to factor the following polynomials completely, and remember to FOIL check your answers.
Here’s one of the equations. 3x^2y^2 - 75

Answer 5

Like so? \[3x^2y^2-75\]

Answer 6

Exactly.

Answer 7

It basically asks you, what's the greatest common factor of both members you can extract outside of parentheses

Answer 8

What do you think both 75 and 3x^2y^2 share?

Answer 9

3x2y2−3·52

Answer 10

I think I got it now, thanks.

Answer 11

Right, but i think you meant 25.
So what you do is put it in this form:
\[3(x^2y^2-25)\]
So now that you foil it, it's returns to the original expression.

Answer 12

Yeah and get 3(xy−5)(xy+5)

Answer 13

Yup, you got it.