Factor polyomial

To factor the polynomial , we can look for two numbers that multiply to and add up to . The numbers and fit this. Rewriting the middle term, we have:

Now, group the terms:

Factor by grouping:

This gives us:

So, the factored form of the polynomial is .

If you’re interested in checking your work, you can always expand the factors back out to make sure you arrive at the original polynomial again—it’s a foolproof method! Plus, it’s satisfying to see how the pieces fit back together!