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Greatest Common Factor (GCF)
R.4 part 1 – Factoring Polynomials
Objective: TSW factor trinomials and
the GCF of polynomials.
When factoring, you will always look for a GCF!!!
What is this?
It is a number, variable or a combination of a
number and variable that is common with ALL
terms in the polynomial.
For Example: 2x – 10
What is the same in both terms?
Examples:
1. 15r – 27
2. 5h2j + hj
Example 4
4( y − 2) 2 + 3( y − 2)
Example 3
3.
28r 4 s 2 + 7 r 3 s − 35r 4 s 3
Example 5
4(a + 3) 3 − 2( a + 3) + (a + 3) 2
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Factor by grouping
1. Group two terms together at a time that will
have a GCF.
2. You may need to rearrange the expression
prior to grouping.
3. Take out the GCF from the first group.
4. Take out the GCF of the second group.
5. Now the parenthesis should match and this is
your final GCF to factor.
Example 7
2 y 2 + az − 2 z − ay 2
Example 6
x3 – 2x2 – 9x + 18
Example 8
20 z 2 − 8 x + 5 pz 2 − 2 px
Homework
R.4 part 1 page 40 #’s 1-23 odd
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