Factoring Cheat Sheet

Two Terms:
1. Factor out a common term. (ax 2 abx) ax( x b) EX: 9 x 2 15x 3x(3x 5)
2. Check for a special formula:
a. x 2 y 2 ( x y)( x y) EX: x 2 4 x 2 2 2 ( x 2)( x 2)
b. x 3 y 3 ( x y)( x 2 xy y 2 ) EX: x 3 8 x 3 23 ( x 2)( x 2 2 x 4)
c. x 3 y 3 ( x y)( x 2 xy y 2 ) EX: x 3 8 x 3 23 ( x 2)( x 2 2 x 4)

Three Terms:
1. Factor out a common term.
2. Check for a special formula:
a. x 2 2 xy y 2 ( x y) 2
3. Factor trinomial using the following rules:
a. x 2 bx c ( x )( x ); add to get middle term EX: x 2 5x 6 ( x 2)( x 3)
b. x 2 bx c ( x )( x ); add to get middle term EX: x 2 5x 6 ( x 2)( x 3)
c. x 2 bx c ( x )( x ); subtract to get middle term EX: x 2 x 6 ( x 2)( x 3)

Four Terms:
1. Factor out common term.
2. Factor by grouping. acx 3 adx 2 bcx bd (acx 3 adx 2 ) (bcx bd ) ax 2 (cx d ) b(cx d ) (cx d )(ax 2 b)

EX: 4 x 3 10 x 2 6 x 15 (4 x 3 10 x 2 ) (6 x 15) 2 x 2 (2 x 5) 3(2 x 5) (2 x 5)(2 x 2 3)