Example

Factoring 6x2+966x^2 + 96

Factor 6x2+966x^2 + 96 completely by extracting the GCF and then determining whether the remaining binomial can be factored further.

Step 1 — Is there a GCF? Yes. The two terms 6x26x^2 and 9696 share a common factor of 66. Factor it out:

6x2+96=6(x2+16)6x^2 + 96 = 6(x^2 + 16)

Step 2 — Classify the expression inside the parentheses. The expression x2+16x^2 + 16 is a binomial. Is it a difference of squares? No — the two terms are connected by addition, not subtraction. It is a sum of squares. Sums of squares do not factor.

Step 3 — Check by multiplying:

6(x2+16)=6x2+966(x^2 + 16) = 6x^2 + 96

The factored form is 6(x2+16)6(x^2 + 16). This example demonstrates an important contrast with the difference of squares examples: when extracting a GCF reveals a sum of squares (rather than a difference of squares), no further factoring is possible. The binomial x2+16x^2 + 16 — despite having two perfect-square terms — cannot be factored because the terms are joined by addition. The only factoring that can be done is extracting the GCF.

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Updated 2026-04-21

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