How Do You Factor a Trinomial?

How Do You Factor a Trinomial?

Note:

Factoring trinomials can by tricky, but this tutorial can help! Follow along as a trinomial is factored right before your eyes! Then, check your answer by using the FOIL method to multiply the binomials back together and see if you get the original trinomial.

Keywords:

  • skill
  • factor
  • factoring
  • polynomial
  • foil
  • term
  • binomial
  • template

Background Tutorials

  • Identify parts of an expression using mathematical terms (sum, term, product, factor, quotient, coefficient); view one or more parts of an expression as a single entity.

      • What's a Term?What's a Term?

      What's a Term?

      Polynomials are those expressions that have variables raised to all sorts of powers and multiplied by all types of numbers. When you work with polynomials you need to know a bit of vocabulary, and one of the words you need to feel comfortable with is 'term'. So check out this tutorial, where you'll learn exactly what a 'term' in a polynomial is all about.

  • Factor a quadratic expression to reveal the zeros of the function it defines.

      • How Do You Figure Out a Template for Factoring a Trinomial?How Do You Figure Out a Template for Factoring a Trinomial?

      How Do You Figure Out a Template for Factoring a Trinomial?

      Did you know that when you're factoring a trinomial, the signs in the trinomial determine the signs in the product of the binomials? This information is really useful when you're factoring trinomials! Watch this tutorial and learn the different sign cases.

  • Understand that polynomials form a system analogous to the integers, namely, they are closed under the operations of addition, subtraction, and multiplication; add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.

      • What's FOIL?What's FOIL?

      What's FOIL?

      The FOIL method. No, not aluminum foil! The FOIL method stands for First, Outer, Inner, and Last. It's a popular way multiply two binomials together. This tutorial makes the FOIL method a breeze!

Further Exploration

  • Factor a quadratic expression to reveal the zeros of the function it defines.

      • How Do You Factor a Polynomial by Guessing and Checking?How Do You Factor a Polynomial by Guessing and Checking?

      How Do You Factor a Polynomial by Guessing and Checking?

      Factoring trinomials can by tricky, but this tutorial can help! Follow along as a trinomial is factored using the guess and check method. What, no possibilities work? The trinomial must be prime! Watch this tutorial and see what happens!

      • How Do You Factor a Polynomial Using the A-C Method?How Do You Factor a Polynomial Using the A-C Method?

      How Do You Factor a Polynomial Using the A-C Method?

      Factoring trinomials can by tricky, but this tutorial can help! See how to use the A-C method to factor a trinomial into the product of two binomials. Then, use the FOIL method to multiply the two binomial back together to check your answer.