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Solving a Quadratic Equation by Factoring
To solve a quadratic equation by factoring, follow a five-step procedure that combines rearranging, factoring, and applying the Zero Product Property:
- Write the quadratic equation in standard form, . All terms must be collected on one side with zero on the other before any factoring can take place. If the equation is not already in this form — for example, if it looks like or — subtract or add terms on both sides until one side equals zero.
- Factor the quadratic expression. Use any applicable factoring technique (such as factoring trinomials, factoring by grouping, or extracting a GCF) to rewrite the nonzero side as a product of two factors.
- Use the Zero Product Property. Because the product of the two factors equals zero, set each factor equal to zero individually.
- Solve the resulting linear equations. Each factor set equal to zero produces a simpler equation that can be solved using standard techniques.
- Check. Substitute each solution back into the original equation to verify that it produces a true statement.
The requirement to start in standard form is essential — the Zero Product Property applies only when a product equals zero. If the equation has nonzero terms on both sides, the factored form cannot be used directly to find the solutions.
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