Factoring: Perfect Squares, Sums & Difference of Cubes

Front

What is factoring?

Back

Factoring is the process of breaking down an expression into a product of simpler expressions, called factors.

Front

What is a perfect square trinomial?

Back

A perfect square trinomial is an expression that can be written as the square of a binomial, in the form (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b².

Front

What is the formula for the difference of squares?

Back

The difference of squares can be factored using the formula a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b).

Front

What is the formula for the sum of cubes?

Back

The sum of cubes can be factored using the formula a³ + b³ = (a + b)(a² - ab + b²).

Front

What is the formula for the difference of cubes?

Back

The difference of cubes can be factored using the formula a³ - b³ = (a - b)(a² + ab + b²).

Front

Factor: 27x³ + 8

Back

(3x + 2)(9x² - 6x + 4)

Front

Factor: 216x³ + 125

Back

(6x + 5)(36x² - 30x + 25)

Front

Factor: n² + 10n + 25

Back

(n + 5)²

Front

Is x² + 18x + 9 a perfect square trinomial?

Back

No

Front

What is the first step in factoring a polynomial?

Back

The first step is to look for a greatest common factor (GCF) among the terms.