Introduction to Factoring

Introduction to Factoring. Factor is two or more numbers you can multiply together to get another number. Common factor is a monomial common to each term in a polynomial. Greatest common factor (GCF) is a common factor with the greatest coefficient and highest degree. Factor by grouping uses the associative and distributive properties to factor some four-term polynomials into the product of two binomials.

Algebra example:
*Identify the GCF. Then factor the expression.
3y^2 + 12y, 2z^3 + 8z^2 - 4z, 5y^5 + 10y^4 - 15y^3 + 10y^2, a^2b + ab^2 + ab
*Factor by grouping.