Factoring Trinomials
Factoring trinomials involves rewriting a quadratic expression in the form ax² + bx + c as a product of two binomials. The goal is to find two numbers that multiply to 'c' (the constant term) and add to 'b' (the coefficient of the linear term). For the trinomial x² + 8x + 12, we look for two numbers that multiply to 12 and add to 8.
Recommended video:
Factor Using Special Product Formulas
FOIL Method
The FOIL method is a technique used to multiply two binomials, standing for First, Outside, Inside, Last, which refers to the order in which the terms are multiplied. After factoring a trinomial, using FOIL helps verify the accuracy of the factorization by ensuring that the product of the binomials returns to the original trinomial. This step is crucial for confirming the correctness of the factorization.
Recommended video: