Factoring Ep.1: Guideline to Factoring - 6:34

KEY CONCEPTS:

First step to factoring, is to find a common factor.

After that, regardless of whether there is a common factor or not is to count the number of terms.

Based on that will determine how to Factor

Parabolas Ep. 11 - Steps to Completing the Square - 13:32

KEY CONCEPTS:

Completing the Square involves converting a quadratic function from STANDARD FORM into a VERTEX FORM.

Steps:
1. Group the x's together and keep the constant (c-value) off to the side.
2. Factor the a-value from x^2 and x (IF we have an a-value)
3. Divide the x-value by 2 and then square it.
4. With the value you get from Step 3, add it to your x^2 and x value and subtract it by that same value (don't forget about the c-value - we're not using it yet, until the end)
5. The first 3 terms you have form a Perfect Square Trinomial (P.S.T) - Factor your P.S.T by square rooting your first term of the PST and the third term of the PST
6. Create your binomial of squares (Special Products)
7. Multiply your a-value (IF you factored one out) with the minus value from Step 4.
8. Simplify the number from Step 7 with the c-value we set aside at the start.

Factoring Ep.7: Factor Difference of Squares - 7:19

KEY CONCEPTS:

Difference of squares are binomials with the function of subtraction separating the 2 terms. NEVER a positive value.

When Factoring such special quadratics:
i.) square root the first term and the second term
ii.) place the first value as the first term of 2 sets of binomials and the second value as the second term
iii.) in one set of binomials write a negative, and the second set a positive.

ie. x^2-81 = (x+9)(x-9)

Polynomials Episode 10: Difference of Squares - 5:26

KEY CONCEPT:

(a-b)(a+b) = a^2-b^2

Since the middle terms equals zero, of the FOIL method all we need to do it the First and the Last.

**NOTE: we subtract the first squared value with the second.