Curriculum
Course: Mathematics — Second Preparatory
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Curriculum

Mathematics — Second Preparatory

Unit 1: Real Numbers

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Unit 2: Algebra

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Unit 3: Geometry

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Unit 4: Statistics

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Text lesson

Factoring by Grouping

Mathematics — Second Preparatory

Factoring by Grouping

Steps of factoring by grouping

Steps of factoring by grouping

  1. Arrange the terms and divide them into two groups of two terms each.
  2. Take out the common factor from the first group, then from the second group.
  3. The same bracket must appear in both groups. When it does, take it out as a common factor.
  4. Write the result as a product and check by multiplying back.
  • If the same bracket does not appear, rearrange the terms and try another grouping.
  • An expression may first need a common factor taken out of all its terms before grouping.
  • In each attempt, we check that the same bracket appears in both groups; if not, we rearrange the terms.
  • Note that factoring by grouping reverses the distributive law.
  • For example, (x + 2)(y + 3) = xy + 3x + 2y + 6, so factoring that result returns the two brackets.
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