Factor Trinomials by Unfoiling (Trail and Error)

Another method that we can use to factor trinomials is by trail and error or unfoiling.

Example:

Factor the following trinomial..

x² - 5x + 6

Solution:

Step 1:The first term is x², which is the product of x and x. Therefore, the first term in each bracket must be x, i.e.

x² - 5x + 6 = (x ... )(x ... )

Step 2: The last term is 6. The possible factors are ±1 and ±6 or ±2 and ±3. So, we have the following choices.

(x + 1)(x + 6)
(x - 1)(x - 6)
(x + 3)(x + 2)
(x - 3 )(x - 2)

The only pair of factors which gives -5x as the middle term is (x - 3)(x - 2)

Step 3: The answer is then

x² - 5x + 6 = (x - 3 )(x - 2)

The following videos show many examples of factoring trinomial by trial and error.

Factor trinomial by unfoiling (trial and error)

Factor trinomial by unfoiling (trial and error)

Factor trinomials by GCF and the unfoiling (trial and error) Factor trinomial, gcf then unfoil

Factor trinomial, gcf then unfoil

Factor trinomial, gcf then unfoil

Factor trinomial, large coefficients, gcf then unfoil

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