Algebra Intermediate - Factoring Trinomials [First term is other than 1]

Once again, when you hear the word “factoring” in math, you know that you will be doing multiplication. You also know that when factoring trinomials you are essentially working a problem backwards, i.e., you are looking for the two binomial factors that will produce the trinomial problem. In order to accomplish this, you will need to be familiar with the FOIL system.

As a quick refresher, the FOIL system stands for working your problem by multiplying: F: the first terms from each factor, O: then the outer terms from each factor, I: next is the inner term from each factor and, finally, L: the last term of each factor. To see an example of how this works, please check out the quiz Factoring Trinomials [First term is “1”] mentioned above as it will provide you with more details on using the FOIL system.