Factoring

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How to Use Prime Factorization on Composite Numbers

In algebra, composite numbers can be broken into prime numbers by prime factorization. You can solve for prime factors without a calculator or list of primes. This video shows how to use prime factorization [more…]

Identifying Prime Numbers

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 Find the Greatest Common Factor

The greatest common factor (GCF) is the largest possible number that evenly divides into each term of an expression containing two or more terms. Finding the GCF is the most common and easiest factoring [more…]

How to Reduce Fractions Using Prime Factorization

You can 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 method [more…]

How to Factor Out Numbers

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

Factoring Four or More Terms by Grouping

When four or more terms come together to form an expression, you always look for a greatest common factor first. If you can’t find a factor common to all the terms at the same time, your other option is [more…]

Factoring Binomials

If a binomial expression can be factored at all, it must be factored in one of four ways. To decide which way you will use, you first look at the addition or subtraction sign that always separates the [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 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 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 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…]