How do you factorise?

Factorising is just simplyfying into brackets. To do this you need to find common terms on all the parts of the question. For example: fully factorise 3a3b+12a2b2+9a5b3  the answer to the is 3a2b(a+4b+3a2b2)

The common multple in this question is 3, as 3,12 and 9 are all divsible by 3. Therefore 3 goes on the outside of the brackets.... 3()

Then we look at the unknowns (a and b). All parts of the question have a2, so this goes on the outside of the brackets. Similarly all parts have b, so this goes outside the brackets. Remembering that when we multiply indices the numbers add together - i.e; ax a= a5 

For the parts inside the brackets we try to work out how to multiply the differents parts of the orginal question to gain the answer we need. Taking the first part of the question (3a3b). On the outside of the brakets we have 3a2and so we need to work out the difference between what we have outside the brackets to the original question - this then goes inside the brackets. In this instance the difference is and so tha is what goes inside the bracket. This process should be repeated for each part of the orginal question and thus the question will be fully factorised.

EW
Answered by Elizabeth W. Maths tutor

6516 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

ABCDEFGH is a cuboid. AB=5.6 cm CH=7.2cm. Angle BCA=44degrees. Find the size of the angle between AH and the plane ABCD giving your answer correct to one dp.


A(0,2) and B(6,5) are two points on the straight line ABCD. If AB=BC=CD find the coordinates of the point D


each month Rohan spends all his income on rent, travel and other living expenses. 1/3 of his income is used for rent, 1/5 on travel and £420 on other living expenses ... work out his income each month


Find the length of the longest side in this triangle.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences