Factoring

Prime Numbers Defined

A prime number is a whole number larger than the number 1 that can be divided evenly only by itself and 1. The first and smallest prime number is the number 2. It’s the only even prime number. All primes [more…]

How to Write Prime Factorization of Composite Numbers

Prime factorization shows you the only way a number can be factored. The process of prime factorization breaks down a composite number into the prime numbers that, when multiplied together, give you that [more…]

How to Reduce Fractions Using Prime Factorization

Use prime factorization to reduce fractions. Start with numbers only and then add variables (letters that represent any real number) to the mix. The beauty of using the prime factorization is that you [more…]

How to Factor Out Numbers

Factoring is the opposite of distributing. In distribution, you multiply a series of terms by a common factor. By factoring, you seek to find what a series of terms have in common and then take it away [more…]

How to Factor Out Variables

You can factor out variables from the terms in an expression. You factor out variables the same way as you do numbers except that when you factor out powers of a variable, the [more…]

How to Evenly Group Four Terms for Factoring

Knowing how to evenly group four terms for factoring is handy when you encounter problems where the terms don't share a common factor or common variable. You can pull out terms that do have variables or [more…]

How to Factor the Difference of Two Perfect Squares

If two terms in a binomial are perfect squares separated by subtraction, then you can factor them. To factor the difference of two perfect squares, remember this rule. If subtraction separates two squared [more…]

How to Factor Binomials

Don't let the prospect of factoring binomials scare you. If a binomial expression can be factored at all, it must be factored in one of four ways.

First, look at the addition or subtraction sign that always [more…]

How to Factor the Difference of Two Perfect Cubes

To factor the difference of two perfect cubes, remember this rule: The difference of two perfect cubes equals the difference of their cube roots multiplied by the sum of their squares and the product of [more…]

How to Factor Trinomials by Finding the Greatest Common Factor

To factor trinomials, you can either find the greatest common factor or unFOIL. You factor trinomials by finding the GCF if a common factor is available. [more…]

How to Factor the Sum of Two Perfect Cubes

The rule for factoring the sum of two perfect cubes is almost the same as the rule for factoring the difference between perfect cubes. You just have to change two little signs to make it work. The sum [more…]

How to Unevenly Group Four Terms for Factoring

Sometimes in factoring, four terms can be separated into uneven groupings with three terms in one group and one term in the other. Unevenly grouping four terms for factoring can be applied to expressions [more…]

How to Group Six Terms for Factoring

You can group terms for factoring in expressions where the terms don't share a common factor or common variable. When grouping six terms for factoring, there’s the chance that the groups can be two groups [more…]