Factoring Cheat Sheet
Two Terms:
1. Factor out a common term.
)()( 2bxaxabxax
EX:
)53(31592 xxxx
2. Check for a special formula:
a.
))((
22 yxyxyx
EX:
)2)(2(24 222 xxxx
b.
))((2233 yxyxyxyx
EX:
)42)(2(28 2333 xxxxx
c.
))((2233 yxyxyxyx
EX:
)42)(2(28 2333 xxxxx
Three Terms:
1. Factor out a common term.
2. Check for a special formula:
a.
222 )(2 yxyxyx
3. Factor trinomial using the following rules:
a.
termmiddlegettoaddxxcbxx);)((
2
EX:
)3)(2(65
2 xxxx
b.
termmiddlegettoaddxxcbxx);)((
2
EX:
)3)(2(65
2 xxxx
c.
termmiddlegettosubtractxxcbxx);)((
2
EX:
)3)(2(6
2 xxxx
Four Terms:
1. Factor out common term.
2. Factor by grouping.
))(()()()()( 222323 baxdcxdcxbdcxaxbdbcxadxacxbdbcxadxacx
EX:
)32)(52()52(3)52(2)156()104(156104222323 xxxxxxxxxxx
