Question 642353: I am not good with factoring the polynomials and I need help. What are the steps for factoring a polynomial? Could you tell me the steps and give me some examples to go off of? Thanks.
Found 2 solutions by jim_thompson5910, solver91311:
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website! Here's an example
Factor: 
Looking at the expression  , we can see that the first coefficient is  , the second coefficient is  , and the last term is  .
Now multiply the first coefficient by the last term to get  .
Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to  (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient ?
To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of (the previous product).
Factors of :
1,2,3,4,6,8,12,16,24,48
-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-8,-12,-16,-24,-48
Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.
These factors pair up and multiply to .
1*48 = 48
2*24 = 48
3*16 = 48
4*12 = 48
6*8 = 48
(-1)*(-48) = 48
(-2)*(-24) = 48
(-3)*(-16) = 48
(-4)*(-12) = 48
(-6)*(-8) = 48
Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient :
| First Number | Second Number | Sum | | 1 | 48 | 1+48=49 | | 2 | 24 | 2+24=26 | | 3 | 16 | 3+16=19 | | 4 | 12 | 4+12=16 | | 6 | 8 | 6+8=14 | | -1 | -48 | -1+(-48)=-49 | | -2 | -24 | -2+(-24)=-26 | | -3 | -16 | -3+(-16)=-19 | | -4 | -12 | -4+(-12)=-16 | | -6 | -8 | -6+(-8)=-14 |
From the table, we can see that the two numbers  and add to (the middle coefficient).
So the two numbers and both multiply to and add to
Now replace the middle term  with  . Remember, and add to . So this shows us that  .
 Replace the second term with .
 Group the terms into two pairs.
 Factor out the GCF  from the first group.
 Factor out from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis.
 Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term 
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Answer:
So factors to .
In other words,  .
Note: you can check the answer by expanding to get or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).
Answer by solver91311(24713)  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Factoring polynomials is something like 3 or 4 weeks of a course of instruction in Algebra 1. Do you seriously expect someone to put that much information in to one of these little answer boxes?
Go back and read the instructions for posting, especially the one that says to be specific about the ONE problem you submit per post and to show the work you have done so far.
John
My calculator said it, I believe it, that settles it
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