Question

How do you factor using the grouping method

Answer 1

To factor a trinomial in the form ax2 + bx + c, find two integers, r and s, whose sum is b and whose product is ac. Rewrite the trinomial as ax2 + rx + sx + c and then use grouping and the Distributive Property to factor the polynomial.

Answer 2

Essentially you need to find some common factor between two terms and then group them. It is slightly to conceptualize and understand. an ez method is (a)(c) = n

so if i have ax + bx + c then i need to find the product of a and c (n)  and then find two numbers that are multiply to n and add to b

So EXAMPLE TIME:

2x² + 5x + 3

n = 6
3 x 2 = 6 and 3 + 2 = 5

2x^2 + 3x + 2x + 3

(2$x^{2}$ + 2x) + (3x + 3)

2x(x+1) + 3(x+1)    Now we can group!

(2x+3)(x+1)