Find two F irst terms with a product of ax 2 . Find two L ast terms with a product of c. If c is negative, the binomials will have different signs. Signs are different since c is negative. Consider the example below.
Signs are both negative since c is positive and bx is nega tive.
Check the sum of the outer and inner products. Check each factor of the factored polynomial to assure that each factor is a prime polynomial. Check the correctness of the factored form by multiplying the factors and comparing the result with the original polynomial to be factored. Factor each polynomial completely. 21 Copyright 1999, Collin County Community College and Rosemary M. Karr, Ph.D. All material on this site is for CCCC class use only.