1. Factoring by Grouping
For use when you have 4 terms (or 6 or 8 or 10… it can only work with an even number of terms)

2. Essential Question
What prior knowledge must I use to be successful at factoring by grouping?

3. Steps for factoring by grouping (always look for GCF first):
1. A polynomial must have 4 terms to factor by grouping.
2. We factor the first two terms and the second two terms separately. Use the rules for GCF to factor these.

4. =
4. Always check to see if you can factor again!

5. Examples:
These two terms must be the same.

6. These two terms must be the same.

7. These two terms must be the same.
You must always check to see if the expression is factored completely. This expression can still be factored using the rules for difference of two squares.
This is a difference of two squares.

8. These two terms must be the same.
You can rearrange the terms so that they are the same.

9. These two terms must be the same.
But they are not the same. So this polynomial is not factorable.

10. Try These for homework:
Factor by grouping.

11. Solutions:
If you did not get these answers, click the green button next to the solution to see it worked out.

12. BACK

13. When you factor a negative out of a positive, you will get a negative.
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14. Now factor the difference of squares.
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15. BACK