This document discusses factoring polynomials by undoing the distributive property. It provides the example of factoring 3x - 12. To do this, the greatest common factor (GCF) of 3 is pulled out in front of the parentheses. Inside the parentheses, x is placed for the first term and -4 is placed for the second term, resulting in the factored form 3(x - 4).

1. Factoring Undoing Distributive Property Sinnea Douglas

2. Simple P olynomial Factoring Simple factoring in the context of polynomial expressions is backwards from distributing. That is, instead of multiplying something through a parentheses, you will be seeing what you can take back out and put in front of a parentheses, such as: 2 x + 6 = 2( x ) + 2(3) = 2( x + 3)

3. Factor 3 x - 12. The only thing common between the two terms (that is, the only thing that can be divided out front) is a "3". So factor this out front: 3 x - 12 =3( )

4. Now, when you divided the "3" out of the "3 x ", this left only the " x " behind, so put that in for the first term inside the parentheses: 3 x -12 = 3( x )

5. When you divided the '3" out of the ” - 12", you left a ” - 4" behind, so put that in the parentheses: 3 x -12 = 3( x - 4) This is your final answer: 3( x -4)