Factoring

Area pictures and the zero product

An interactive lesson with 6 steps, about 5 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• $(x + p)(x + q) = x^2 + (p+q)x + pq$.
• To factor, find two numbers that add to b and multiply to c.
• Zero product: if AB = 0, then A = 0 or B = 0.

Steps

1. Expand
2. The area model
3. Factor it
4. Build the rectangle
5. Difference of squares
6. Solve