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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:

  1. Write the quadratic equation in standard form, ax2+bx+c=0ax^2 + bx + c = 0. 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 2y2=13y+452y^2 = 13y + 45 or 5x213x=7x5x^2 - 13x = 7x — subtract or add terms on both sides until one side equals zero.
  2. 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.
  3. Use the Zero Product Property. Because the product of the two factors equals zero, set each factor equal to zero individually.
  4. Solve the resulting linear equations. Each factor set equal to zero produces a simpler equation that can be solved using standard techniques.
  5. 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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Updated 2026-04-21

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