Quick Check for Factoring Polynomials

	Number	Of	Terms
CHECK FOR	Two	Three	Four or M
Greatest Common Factor
Grouping by Pairs
Difference of Squares a2- b2 = (a + b)(a - b)
Perfect Square Trinomial a 2+2ab+b2 =(a+b)2 a2 -2ab+b2 =(a-b)2
Grouping method ( Product / Sum method ) or Reverse FOIL

Points to Remember:

1. Always look for a GCF first, no matter how many terms are
in the polynomial .

2. A sum of squares is prime (unless there is a GCF).

3. You can only ‘insert’ the pair of numbers (found when
using grouping to factor a trinomial ), if the leading
coefficient is a 1.

4. Always write a trinomial in descending order (if there is
one variable ) before trying to factor using grouping or
reversing FOIL.