This week I learned how to factor different polynomials using the box method. Similar to multiplying polynomials, when factoring using the box method, you just reverse the process.
Here are the steps to factoring a polynomial using the box method:
First you set up the first half of your box by placing the first number in the top left corner, in this case that number is
You then put the last number (the constant) in the bottom right corner of the box. For this example that number is 10.
Next, multiply the first and last numbers. The result here is 90. Now find all the ways 2 numbers can be multiplied to get 90, and once you have that, find the ones that add up to your middle number (21x).
Now that we have 6 and 15, put them in the box (location does not matter), and then figure out what multiplied to get the numbers in the box.
The final answer should look like this:
