Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Factoring Trinomials
Factoring trinomials involves rewriting a quadratic expression in the form ax² + bx + c as a product of two binomials. The goal is to find two numbers that multiply to ac (the product of a and c) and add to b. This process simplifies solving equations and understanding the roots of the polynomial.
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Factor Using Special Product Formulas
Prime Trinomials
A trinomial is considered prime if it cannot be factored into the product of two binomials with rational coefficients. This occurs when there are no two numbers that satisfy the conditions for factoring, indicating that the quadratic does not have real roots. Recognizing prime trinomials is essential for determining the factorability of quadratic expressions.
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FOIL Method
The FOIL method is a technique used to multiply two binomials, standing for First, Outside, Inside, Last, which refers to the order in which the terms are multiplied. This method helps verify the correctness of a factorization by expanding the product back into a trinomial. Understanding FOIL is crucial for checking work in factoring problems.
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