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| Polynomial Factorization |
Polynomial Factorization
Factoring polynomials is a lot like factoring regular numbers. The goal is to find numbers or polynomials that divide out evenly from the polynomial. In contrast to factoring, you can simplify an expression like so:
You can think of factoring as doing the opposite, like in this example where we first find the greatest common factor (GCF) of the terms (9) and then rewrite the polyynomial:
Let's do some more examples.
You can factor the first term in to (2)(x) and the second in to (-5)(2). The only common factor is 2. Move the common factor out to the beginning of our rewritten polynomial.
When you divide 2 out of 2x you're left with x
When you divide 2 out of -10 you're left with -5.
Common Mistakes
When factoring, often times you'll end up with a division that results in 1. Make sure to include it in the parentheses.