1. Zach Paul Start

2. Step 1 Is there a Greatest Common Factor? YesNo Example

3. Step 1 Continued Factor out the Greatest Common Factor. Next Step Last Step Example

4. Step 2 How many terms are in the polynomial? 234 or more Last Step Example

5. Step 3 Is the leading coefficient one? YesNo Last Step Example

6. Step 3 continued Find factors of third term that add up to the middle term. Next Last Step Example

7. Step 3 continued Follow these steps:  Multiply the leading coefficient and the constant  Find factors of that number that add up to the middle coefficient  Rewrite the middle term using these factors  Factor by using Grouping Method Next Last Step Example

8. Step 3 Is there a difference of two squares? Yes No Last Step Example

9. Step 3 continued Use the Sum and Difference pattern to finish factoring. Next Last Step Example

10. Step 3 Use the Grouping Method to finish factoring the polynomial. Next Last Step Example

11. Congratulations You have factored the polynomial as much as possible. Restart

12. Greatest Common Factor Examples With a GCF:Without a GCF. Has a GCF of Has no common factors other than 1 Back to Problem

13. How to Factor Out a Greatest Common Factor Back to Problem Take the GCF and factor (divide each term by that number).

14. Examples with Different Numbers of Terms Back to Problem 2 Terms3 Terms 4 Terms

15. Leading Coefficient Examples Back to Problem Leading Coefficient of 1 Other than 1

16. Factoring Example Back to Problem Find factors of last term (15) that add up to middle term (8). (these would be 5 and 3)

17. Factoring Example Back to Problem  Multiply the leading coefficient and the constant (12 X 1)  Find factors of that number that add up to the middle coefficient (4 and 3)  Rewrite the middle term using these factors  Factor by using Grouping MethodGrouping Method

18. Squares Example Back to Problem difference Perfect square Perfect Square

19. Sum and Difference Back to Problem Use the SUM and DIFFERENCE of the two squares.

20. Grouping Method Back to Problem Group Terms Factor Each Group Use Distributive Property

21. Grouping Method Back to Example Group Terms Factor Each Group Use Distributive Property