Factoring

Factoring is the exact opposite of FOIL-ing (see last post). Instead of multiplying out two binomials to create a trinomial, we will be breaking a trinomial into two binomials.

This is probably the most important skill you will learn in algebra (not counting all of the skills that are used for this one). So when your teacher says it's time to begin the chapter on factoring, sit up straight in your seat and pay attention.
While there are something like 8 different factoring methods, I am only going to present one. This is for a reason: this method works for every single factorable trinomial (yes, there are many methods that only work in specifc cases but I will not be showing those to you unless you ask nicely).

Here is another example, which introduces the case of a trinomial with negatives:

And one last example that shows the case of an additional numerical factor:

 

(I'm not really sure why I made this in a different color scheme than all of my other posts. Let's just say it was because this one is extra important.)

Because factoring is so important, I intend on making my first video based on it. I will be working through two or three examples. This video will be posted sometime this upcoming week.