Factoring
Factor using the grouping method. No single factor is common to all four terms, so apply factoring by grouping. Step 1 — Group terms with common factors: Pair the first two terms and the last two terms: . Step 2 — Factor the GCF from each group: The GCF of and is : . For the second group, the GCF of and is (use the negative GCF so that the binomial inside matches the first group): . The expression becomes . Step 3 — Factor the common binomial: Both terms share the factor . Factor it out: . Step 4 — Check by multiplying to confirm the result equals the original expression. The factored form is . When the second group begins with a negative term, be careful with signs when factoring its GCF — choosing the negative GCF (here rather than ) reverses the signs inside the parentheses and produces the matching binomial factor needed for step 3.
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Ch.7 Factoring - Elementary Algebra @ OpenStax
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Ch.6 Factoring - Intermediate Algebra @ OpenStax
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