1. Factoring Special Cases :
step 1: write it in standard form
step 2: factor out GCF if possible
step 3: Write what a, b, and c =
step 4: write 2 sets of ( )
put ax in each set
step 5: multiply a and c
step 6: what factors of step 5
add up to b?
step 7: simplify each set of ( ) if you can

2. Special Cases: Factoring a Difference of Squares
Factoring a difference of squares follows the same process as before. Just remember that the middle term is 0x.
(x )(x )
Think what are the factors of ac which will give 0.

3. Do you notice a pattern with the difference of two squares?
They follow this rule:
A2 – B2 = (A-B)(A+B)
Square root both A and B terms and then put B as a negative and postive.
X2 – 81
The square root of x2 = x and the square root of 81 is 9.
Therefore it factors to (x+9)(x-9).

4. Special Cases: Perfect Square Trinomials
Factoring perfect square trinomials follows the same seven step process as before.
(2x )(2x )
(2x – 6)(2x-6)

5. Do you notice a pattern with perfect square trinomials?
Follow these rules:
A2 + 2AB + B2 = (A+B)2
A2 – 2AB + B2 = (A–B)2 =