Section 6.2: Factoring

6.2 Outline

A. Factor - this is the second of four main processes in algebra
B. Using areas to factor
C. Using algebra to factor
      1. FOIL
      2. procedure for factoring trinomials
      3. common factoring
      4. completely factored
      5. difference of squares

6.2 Essential Ideas  

COMMON FACTOR; look to see if terms share a common factor.

PROCEDURE FOR FACTORING TRINOMIALS; To factor a trinomial:
1. Find the factors of the second-degree term, and set up the binomials.
2. Find the factors of the constant term, and consider all possible binomials
    (mentally). Think of the factors that will form a rectangle.
3. Determine the factors that yield the correct middle term. If no pair of factors
    produces the correct full product, then the trinomial is not factorable using
    integers. This type of factoring is called FOIL.

DIFFERENCE OF SQUARES; a² - b² = (a - b)(a + b)