Here are some examples of how to factor polynomials in the easiest ways:

1. 2x + 6
STEP ONE :
-Find the GCF of 2 and 6 which is 2
2x + 6 = 2 <-- this is the GCF

click the youtube icon to know more about finding the GCF

• YouTube (alt)

STEP TWO :
-since we are done finding the GCF of 2 and 6. Let's move on by dividing the remaining factor and remember that the GCF is always outside the remaining factor or the parenthesis.
2x + 6 = 2
(divide the GCF into the terms)
2x divided by 2 = 1x (you don't need to copy or drop the number if your quotient is 1)
2x + 6 = 2 (x
Let's move on to the second term which is + 6
Just like the first term, we will divide it into the GCF.
6 divided by 2 = 3
so our final answer will be
2x + 6 = 2 (x + 3)

The next example is what if the numbers don't have any GCF?

2. 5x² + 6x
STEP ONE:
There are no GCF for 5 and 6 except 1 but it will not be counted, so we will look at the variables which are x. The only thing that we need to do is look for the lowest exponent and the lowest exponent between x² and x is x. So our final GCF is X
STEP TWO:
We wouldn't have any problem with numbers since our GCF is just a variable, so we can just copy the first term but we still have the variable x squared in our first term. We will only put down one variable, which means that x² will be x only.
5x² + 6x = X (5x
Let's move on with the second term which is + 6x, just like what we did with the first term. You will just copy the number since there are no numbers in the GCF and put away one variable if needed. So our final answer will be
5x² + 6x = X (5x + 6)