1. What are the questions, in order, that you ask yourself as you start to factor a polynomial? What do you need to do as a result of the answer to each question?

Answer 1

Here are some ideas:

1) Does the polynomial have a GCF? If yes, factor out the GCF. leaving the GCF times the "residual" polynomial.

2) Is the residual polynomial a binomial? If yes...

a) is it a difference of squares? If yes, factor as product of sum and difference of same two expressions.

b) is it a difference of cubes? If yes, apply the technique for factoring a difference of cubes.

c) is it a sum of cubes? if Yes, apply technique for sum of cubes factoring.

3) is the residual polynomial a trinomial? If yes...

a) is it a perfect square trinomial. If yes, write as a binomial squared.

b) If not a perfect square trinomial, try to factor into a binomial times another binomial, using techniques

available, i.e. ("undo foil", "the ac method", "the box method")

4) is the residual polynomial containing four terms? If yes, try factoring by grouping.