Learn Before
Activity (Process)

Factoring the Greatest Common Factor from a Polynomial

To factor the greatest common factor (GCF) from a polynomial, apply the Distributive Property in reverse. Whereas multiplying a polynomial by a monomial uses a(b+c)=ab+aca(b + c) = ab + ac to expand, factoring reverses the process using ab+ac=a(b+c)ab + ac = a(b + c) to condense. The procedure has four steps:

  1. Find the GCF of all the terms of the polynomial. Use prime factorization to identify the largest expression that divides evenly into every term.
  2. Rewrite each term as a product using the GCF. Express each term as the GCF multiplied by the remaining factor.
  3. Use the "reverse" Distributive Property to factor the expression. Write the GCF outside a single set of parentheses containing the remaining factors.
  4. Check by multiplying the factors. Distribute the GCF back through the parentheses to verify that the result matches the original polynomial.

For example, to factor 2x+142x + 14: the GCF of 2x2x and 1414 is 22, so rewrite as 2x+272 \cdot x + 2 \cdot 7, then factor to get 2(x+7)2(x + 7). Checking: 2(x+7)=2x+142(x + 7) = 2x + 14 ✓. This process is the reverse of multiplying a polynomial by a monomial — starting with the product and recovering the factors.

0

1

Updated 2026-04-30

Contributors are:

Who are from:

Tags

OpenStax

Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.7 Factoring - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Algebra

Math

Ch.8 Rational Expressions and Equations - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax

Prealgebra

Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Ch.6 Factoring - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax

Related
Learn After