FACTORING ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
each term in the first polynomial by each term in the second.
After multiplying two polynomials together, the number of terms in your
expression before simplifying should equal the number of terms in one
polynomial multiplied by the number of terms in the second. In the
example, you should have 3 × 2 = 6 terms in the product before you simplify
like terms.
57 . Factoring out a Common Divisor
A factor common to all terms of a polynomial can be factored out. All three
terms in the polynomial 3 x^3 + 12x^2 − 6x contain a factor of 3x. Pulling out the
common factor yields 3 x(x^2 + 4x − 2).
58 . Factoring the Difference of Squares
One of the test maker’s favorite factorables is the difference of squares.
a^2 − b^2 = (a − b)(a + b)
x^2 − 9, for example, factors to (x − 3)(x + 3).
59 . Factoring the Square of a Binomial
