7.3 Factoring Monomials from Polynomials
This is a set of guiding questions and materials for creating your own lesson plan on how to
factor out a monomial from a polynomial.
Learning Objectives
 To factor a monomial from a polynomial.
Guiding Questions
 What is the distributive property and why does it work?
 What can you say about 2(3x + 4) = 6x + 8?
 Why do we call it factoring?
 Distributing  Factoring
 If we had started with 6x + 8, how would’ve we reached 2(3x + 4)?
 Following the approach above, what can we do with the following polynomials?
o 3x – 15
o 3a2 + 7a
o 4b3 + 6b2 – 2b
o 3c2 – 6
Notes for Teachers
 We recommend reviewing again the distributive property through integer decomposition,
like we did with multiplication of polynomials.
Video of the Day
 7.3.1 Factoring monomials from polynomials
o Description: We show the connection between the distributive property and
factoring by pulling out the greatest common factor (GCF).
o Tags: integer decomposition, GCF, factoring by pulling out, distributive property,
collecting
Exercises and Problems
 North Carolina Common Core Math 1 Item Bank, Nagy-Lup, pp. 17-18
Online Resources
 Khan Academy: Factoring simple expressions