!

Methods of

factoring
!

Difference of Two Squares

a + b = (a+b)(a-b)
!

a + b = (a+b)( a -ab+b ) 3 3 2 2 a - b = (a-b)( a +ab+b )

S-O-AP
SAME OPPOSITE ALWAYS POSITIVE
!

Sum / Difference of Two Cubes

3 3 2

Grouping
1. Is there a GCF? Factor it out! 2. Split the expression into two pairs of terms and factor separately 3. Make sure the factor you pull out is the same for both pairs 4. Combine the factor shared and the other factors to create a factored expression
!

Credit: PurpleMath

Quadratic Trinomials
ax + bx + c
Ask yourself, what multiplies to c and adds to b
!

Greatest Common Factor

The largest of the common factors of two or more numbers
!