Start

Common Only Only Factor by NO

NO NO NO Grouping? Done
Factor? two three
terms? terms?

YES YES YES YES

Factor Draw a line to divide

out GCF Difference Difference the terms into two
of NO or sum of
NO Done Is NO Is
squares? cubes? a = 1? a ≠ 1? groups. Factor the
GCF from each
group. Factor out the
YES YES YES YES common binomial
factor to find the
a 2 − b2 = a 3 + b3 = (a + b)(a 2 − ab + b 2 ) Make a chart Use a table to find factors of binomial factors of
a∙c b a∙c whose sum is b. Rewrite the polynomial.
(a + b)(a − b) a 3 − b3 = (a − b)(a 2 + ab + b 2 ) List Choose the middle term as two terms
the the using the factors you chose
factor factors as the coefficients of the new
pairs whose terms. Draw a line to
Done of a∙c sum is separate the groups. Factor Any
Can it NO
YES b. the GCF from each group. binomials
factor Use the factors you Factor out the common that
more? factor?
chose to write the binomial factor to find the
binomial factors of binomial factors of the Done
NO the trinomial. trinomial. YES

Done Done Done

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