Question 438559: Hi, I would like to know what the difference between factoring polynomials and factoring polynomials completely is. Thank you! Found 2 solutions by Alan3354, tinbar:Answer by Alan3354(69443) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! You can factor a poly, but not separate it into its least factors.
eg, 5x^2 + 5x
= 5*(x^2 + x) after factoring out the 5
But it can be factored further,
= 5*x*(x + 1)
Now it's completely factored.
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Factoring means just pulling out a factor. Factoring completely means whatever u r factoring cannot be factored anymore
Consider f=x^3-3x^2+2x
We can rewrrite f as x (x^2 -3x+2) so we have factored out the x term but this isn't factored completely since the second bracket can be factored as (x-1)(x-2) so if we write f as x(x-1)(x-2) then we can say its factored completely
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