How do you factorise?

Factorising is just simplyfying into brackets. To do this you need to find common terms on all the parts of the question. For example: fully factorise 3a3b+12a2b2+9a5b3  the answer to the is 3a2b(a+4b+3a2b2)

The common multple in this question is 3, as 3,12 and 9 are all divsible by 3. Therefore 3 goes on the outside of the brackets.... 3()

Then we look at the unknowns (a and b). All parts of the question have a2, so this goes on the outside of the brackets. Similarly all parts have b, so this goes outside the brackets. Remembering that when we multiply indices the numbers add together - i.e; ax a= a5 

For the parts inside the brackets we try to work out how to multiply the differents parts of the orginal question to gain the answer we need. Taking the first part of the question (3a3b). On the outside of the brakets we have 3a2and so we need to work out the difference between what we have outside the brackets to the original question - this then goes inside the brackets. In this instance the difference is and so tha is what goes inside the bracket. This process should be repeated for each part of the orginal question and thus the question will be fully factorised.

Answered by Elizabeth W. Maths tutor

6175 Views

See similar Maths GCSE tutors

Related Maths GCSE answers

All answers ▸

How many people chose A?


Expand the brackets (3x^2 + 6x + 7)(x - 3)


Mark has a voucher that gives him 22% off the prices at a hardware store. Estimate how much he will pay for an electric drill that normally costs £87.99. (non-calculator) (3)


200 pupils are taking a school trip. Some are flying, some are taking the bus. There are three times as many boys going as girls. One third of the boys going are flying. How many boys are getting the bus?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences