FACTOR

YES

Do all of the terms have any factors in common?

NO

WRITE
Common (not common) If possible now factor the not common part

How many terms?

3 FORM
a b = (a+b)(ab)
2 2

GROUP
Common factor in pairs. Keep the middle sign. Look for common group.

A(___) + B(___)
factors to

(A+B)(___)

YES x2 + bx + c
WRITE ( X +__ )( X + __ )

Is 1 the coefficient of the first term?

NO

ax2 + bx + c
Compute ac. Find two numbers that multiple to ac AND add to b. Replace bx with two terms. Group factor

These two numbers must multiply to c and ADD to b