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Chapter 12
Other Factoring Techniques
The process of factoring binomials and quadratic trinomials is pretty much scripted with the various choices available for each format. When you start factoring expressions with more than three terms, you need different techniques to create the factorization — or to recognize that factors may not even exist.
The Problems You’ll Work On
In this chapter on factoring polynomials, you deal with the following situations:
Factoring four, six, and eight (or more) terms, using grouping
Recognizing and using uneven grouping to create differences of squares
Starting with grouping and then finding differences of squares in the factors
Starting with grouping and then finding sums or differences of cubes in the factors
Recognizing that factoring out the GCF (greatest common factor) first makes factoring easier
What to Watch Out For
Here are a few things to keep in mind while you work on the factoring:
Making sure factors created from grouping are exactly the same
Factoring negative terms correctly
Recognizing when a problem can be factored again and knowing when to stop
Factoring by Grouping
536–543 Factor by grouping.
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Combining Other Factoring Techniques with Grouping
544–547 Factor each completely, beginning with grouping.
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Using Multiple Factoring Methods
548–565 Completely factor each expression.
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