Unit+6+Factoring

Unit 6: Factoring

[] I found this link to be helpful in the factoring polynomials.

http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/factoring-quadratics.html

Here is another good website when learning how to factor.

Example: x squared + 3x - 4.

The factors would be (x + 4) (x - 1). The reason is because 4 * 1 is 4 and 4 - 1 = 3.

Visual Example: how to factor



The exponent of "2" tells us that there are 2 "x's" as factors. The other terms, along with the first, tell us that there is a sum and product, because when the the 2 x's are multiplied, 2 integers are multiplied as well. Each x is multiplied with an integer, which creates, in this case, 6x and -2x. These are like terms which are then added to give us 4x (sum). Lastly, the two integers are multiplied to get -12 (product).