Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Factoring is the process of breaking down a mathematical expression into its simplest form by finding its factors. It involves identifying common factors and using distributive property to simplify the expression.
Related terms
Quadratic Equation: A polynomial equation of degree 2 that can be factored into two linear expressions.
Greatest Common Factor (GCF): The largest factor that divides evenly into two or more numbers or expressions.
Difference of Squares: A special case of factoring where a binomial expression can be written as the product of two conjugate binomials.