SOLUTION: I need help with factoring polynomials

Question 203311: I need help with factoring polynomials
Answer by PRMath(133) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
That's a pretty broad question! :-)

Maybe you can send some examples of what confuses you. When someone answers a specific question, it helps with the understanding. In the meantime tho, I can give you the following info with regard to factoring polynomials.......

When you factor, you look for factors common to EVERY term in the equation. For example:

in this equation.... .... you have to ask yourself: "What is common to AND common to the also?"

Do you see that the number 4 is common to both? SO... what you do is sort of "take out" the 4 and put it in front of a parenthesis, to "announce" (so to speak) that you are dividing 4 from the entire equation.

It's like this...

The numbers in the parenthesis came when you made these divisions:

and .

Sometimes tho, you can divide out more than one common factor. For example, in this problem............

.......... can you see that 5 is common to 5 and to 20?

BUT - can you also see that is also common to the and to the ?

SO, let's "take out" or more specifically, let's divide from the whole equation, k?

The above came when you made these divisions:

along with

These are fairly simple factoring problems. They can get more tricky but it's not clear at what level you get confused. So again, I suggest you submit a problem you are struggling with, along with the steps you have taken to solve the problem. Then your mistakes (if you make any) can be corrected.

I hope this helps you. :-)
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