Factoring - GCF, Difference of Squares, and Trinomials

Front

What is the Greatest Common Factor (GCF)?

Back

The GCF is the largest factor that divides two or more numbers or expressions without leaving a remainder.

Front

How do you find the GCF of two numbers?

Back

List the factors of each number and identify the largest factor they have in common.

Front

What is a perfect square trinomial?

Back

A perfect square trinomial is a quadratic expression that can be expressed as the square of a binomial, e.g., (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b².

Front

What is the difference of squares?

Back

The difference of squares is a special product that can be factored as a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b).

Front

Factor the expression: d² - 36.

Back

(d + 6)(d - 6) - This is a difference of squares.

Front

What is a trinomial?

Back

A trinomial is a polynomial with three terms, typically in the form ax² + bx + c.

Front

What is the slip and slide method in factoring trinomials?

Back

The slip and slide method involves multiplying the leading coefficient by the constant term, then factoring the resulting trinomial.

Front

Fully factor the expression: 25x² - 81.

Back

(5x + 9)(5x - 9) - This is a difference of squares.

Front

How do you factor a trinomial like 3x² - 11x + 10?

Back

Use the slip and slide method to find factors: (x - 2)(3x - 5).

Front

What is the first step in factoring a polynomial?

Back

Identify and factor out the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) if applicable.