Math
Solving by factoring.
Definition
A method for solving polynomial equations by rewriting the polynomial as a product of factors and then setting each factor equal to zero. This relies on the zero product property: if ab = 0, then a = 0 or b = 0.
How it works · 4 phases
Step by step.
- Move all terms to one side so the equation equals zero.
- Factor the polynomial completely.
- Set each factor equal to zero.
- Solve each resulting equation for the variable.
Examples
Real-world.
- 1 x² − 5x + 6 = 0 factors to (x−2)(x−3) = 0, so x = 2 or x = 3
- 2 2x² + 8x = 0 factors to 2x(x+4) = 0, so x = 0 or x = −4