This week we learnt how to factor simple trinomials. A simple trinomial is a trinomial where the coefficient of the is a 1. An example of a simple trinomial is: +5x+6. 

To factor an equation, you will start off with an equation like the one above. Factoring is basically expanding the expression. Breaking down an is easy because it just turns into two x’s. To find out how to factor the 5x you have to first find the factor of 6. The factors of 6 are 1,2,3,6 (1 x 6 and 2 x 3). Then, you use those factors to see which ones add up to 5. 1+6 doesn’t equal 5 so you can rule those ones out. 2+3 does equal 5 so now you know that the factors of 5 are 2 and 3.

Now you put the entire factored equation together: (x+2)(x+3). To make sure you did it correctly, you can simplify that equation and if the answer is the same equation you started with, then you did it right. Here are the steps you need to take:

=

x+2=2x, x+3=3x, 2x+3x=5x

=6

+5x+6