http://www.ck12.org Chapter 2. Polynomials and Rational Functions
2.1 Factoring Review
Here you will review factoring techniques from Algebra 1 and 2 in preparation for more advanced factoring tech-
niques. The review will include factoring out a greatest common factor, factoring into binomials and the difference
of squares.
To factor means to write an expression as a product instead of a sum. Factoring is particularly useful when solving
equations set equal to zero because then logically at least one factor must be equal to zero. In PreCalculus, you
should be able to factor even when there is no obvious greatest common factor or the difference is not between two
perfect squares.
How do you use the difference of perfect squares factoring technique on polynomials that don’t contain perfect
squares and why would this be useful?
Watch This
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/60631http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDebmfT5Nsk James Sousa: Factoring: Greatest Common Factor
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/60633http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yBDsZvfT0g James Sousa: Factoring: Difference of Squares
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/60635http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWapvAWXdoY James Sousa: Factoring: Basic Trinomials with a=1