1. Unit

2. Factoring a polynomial
means expressing it as a
product of other
polynomials.

3. Factoring Method #1
Factoring polynomials with a
common monomial factor
(Using GCF)
**Always look for a GCF before using
any other factoring method.**

4. Steps:
1. Find the greatest common factor.
2. Divide the polynomial by the GCF.
The quotient is the other factor.
3. Express the polynomial as the product
of the quotient and the GCF.

5. 3 2 2
Example : 6c d 12c d 3cd
Step 1: GCF 3cd
Step 2: Divide by GCF
3 2 2
(6c d 12c d 3cd) 3cd
2
2c 4cd 1

6. The answer should look like this:
3 2 2
Ex: 6c d 12c d 3cd
2
3cd(2c 4cd 1)

7. Factoring Method #2
Factoring polynomials that are a
difference of squares.

8. Apply the rule...
2 2
a b (a b)(a b)
2
Ex: x 16
2 2
x 4
(x 4)(x 4)

9. Citations
“Animal Number 1," © 2010 horse50, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
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“Mathematician," © 2006 NASA / johnny_automatic used under a Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike license:
http://openclipart.org/people/johnny_automatic/johnny_automatic_mathematician.svg