how do you know if and expression can be factored?

Answer 1

if it is a quadratic (ax^2 + bx + c) then put it into the quadratic equation. that automatically will give you 0, 1, or 2 real answers. the equation is: x = [-b +/- (square root of b^2 - 4*a*c)] / 2a

if (b^2 - 4*a*c) is negative, you have no real solutions. if it is zero, you have one real solution. if it is positive, you have 2 real solutions.

then, if for example you get x=4 and x= -2, your factors are (x-4) and (x+2)

Answer 2

By the way, for the quadratic equation: the variable 'a' represents the coefficient of the x^2 term, the variable 'b' represents the coefficient of the x term, and the variable 'c' represents the last term (the term with no x's, or to be more precise: the term with x^0).

Answer 3

All.