Chapter Six FACTORING!
Greatest common factor & factoring by grouping Section 6.1 Greatest common factor & factoring by grouping
Factoring out a GCF 1. Find the GCF of the coefficients 2. Find the GCF of the variables (take the smallest power of the common variable!) 3. Divide each term by the GCF. SOLUTION: gcf (the quotient) To check: use distribution!
EX: Factor 1. 12xy7 – 8y5 2. x5 – x3 + x2 3. 24a2b5c – 18a5b8c + 12ab3c2
Factoring by Grouping Used to factor FOUR term polynomials! 1. Group into 2 pairs 2. Factor out the GCF of each pair… the binomial pieces should match after you factor! 3. Re-write as the product of 2 binomials Check using FOIL
EX: Factor 1. 3am – 3an + 3bm – 3bn 2. 5uv2 - 5v2 + 15uv – 15v 3. 10a2b2 - 10b3 + 15a2b - 15b2