Factorising Expressions Summary

Factorising Expressions

Summary

factorisation of an algebraic expression is the reverse process of expanding.
it involves placing brackets into an expression.
a sum of terms then becomes a product.
once an expression has been factorised, it should then be expanded to check it is correct.
some expressions cannot be factorised.

 

Key Skills
  • recognise common factors in expressions
  • factorise quadratic expressions with coefficients of x2equal to 1 or greater than 1
  • recognise and factorise perfect squares
  • recognise and factorise the difference of two squares

 

Vocabulary

factorise, sum, product, common factor, grouping, quadratic, difference of two squares, perfect square.