There are different factoring methods, the first one I will discuss is GCF (I discussed this method in my previous work of "Polynomials," it can be found in my portfolio) GCF stands for the Greatest Common Factor, and it is the first method needed to be used when you are asked to factor. This is one of the easiest methods to use. It is used to simplify an algebraic equation or expression. It has is the method I which a term that everything in the parenthesis has is isolated to outside of the parenthesis example: 3x2+15x=24 notice how every term has a 3 in it, you can use the GCF method to "factor" in the 3 is isolated to the outside of the parenthesis and the equation is rewritten as 3(x2+5x+8). It may look like if it were a different equation, but it is not. If the 3 was to be distributed into every term in the parenthesis again it should give you the equation you originally started with.
If the factoring method was to not work because there is nothing common in every factor then skip it and try the next method I am going to explain is: Difference of two squares. The difference of two squares is used when the same numbers are being multiplied together example: 4x2 -9, this is simplified (2x+3) (2x-3) it is easy identify squares when 1.) There is a squared term and 2.) Negative involved. If the second method does not work then use the next method (it is most likely the method will not apply to quadratic equations, considering this method is usually only used on polynomials) ....
The next and final method I will explain is the x and box method. The method used will be an Where --> example: x2+15x+56 --> a=1 b=15 c=56 *variables are never the a,b or c You substitute the values *just to memorize where the values need to be substituted think the Air Conditioner is above the Basement so the missing sides will need to add to be the value of b and multiply to be the value of the ac after that example: substitute the value of a in the first row, first column the c value in the last box which is in the second row in the second column and the b in the other boxes it doesn’t matter which box they are put in, in the rectangular array--> then, identify which terms multiply to be the terms inside the array. In the end, you will end up with the terms outside are your factors example:
