My Friend Does Math is a mnemonic device to remember the steps for factoring a trinomial when a does not equal 1: (1) multiply using the distributive property, (2) factor out the greatest common factor, (3) divide the remaining terms by the factorized greatest common factor. The steps are: multiply, factor out, divide, and multiply.

1. By Jorge Peralta

2. A easy way to remember how to factor a trinomial when a does not equal to 1 is to think about My Friend Does Math which stands for Multiply, Factor out, Divide, and Multiply. 1.The first step is to multiply using distributive property. 5x 2 +x-2=x 2 +6+9 2.Then you factor out 9 x 2 +x+6+9 3 3 6 3. After you factor out you must divide x 2 +6+9 (x+3) (x+3) = (x+3) (x+2) 1 1

3. X2+6+9 9 3 3 6 (x + 3) (x+3)

4. When your factoring out a binomial you must first of course factor it out then you must plug in the factored numbers into the parenthesis. 25 – a 2 5 5 a a