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91Ó°ÊÓ

Factor each four-term polynomial by grouping. If this is not possible, write "not factorable by grouping." $$ 6 m^{2}-5 m n-6 m+5 n $$

Short Answer

Expert verified
Factored as \((6m - 5n)(m - 1)\).

Step by step solution

01

Group the First Two Terms

Take the polynomial \(6m^2 - 5mn - 6m + 5n\) and group the first two terms. This gives us \((6m^2 - 5mn)\).
02

Group the Last Two Terms

Now, group the last two terms of the polynomial, resulting in \((-6m + 5n)\).
03

Factor Common Factors from Each Group

For the first group \((6m^2 - 5mn)\), factor out the common factor, which is \(m\): \(m(6m - 5n)\). For the second group \((-6m + 5n)\), factor out \(-1\) to get \(-1(6m - 5n)\).
04

Identify Common Binomial Factor

Notice now that each group has \((6m - 5n)\) as a common factor: \(m(6m - 5n) - 1(6m - 5n)\).
05

Factor Out the Common Binomial

The expression can now be written as \((6m - 5n)(m - 1)\) by factoring out the common binomial \((6m - 5n)\). This is the completely factored form.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Factoring by Grouping
Factoring by grouping is a useful method to factor polynomials, especially those with four terms. The objective is to rearrange and group the terms in such a way that each group has a common factor, which can then be factored out. To apply this technique:
  • Step 1: Identify and group terms. For a four-term polynomial, divide it into two pairs or groups of terms.
  • Step 2: Factor each group separately by looking for common factors.
  • Step 3: If both groups have a common binomial factor, factor this binomial out to simplify the expression.
Typically, if grouping doesn't reveal a common factor, then the polynomial might not be factorable by this method. This approach excels when a polynomial can be broken down into recognizable patterns or simpler products.
Binomial Factor
When factoring polynomials by grouping, the goal often is to identify a common binomial factor. A binomial is an algebraic expression with two terms, such as (6m - 5n) in our example. Here’s why identifying a binomial factor is important:
  • It simplifies polynomial expressions to smaller components.
  • All terms in the polynomial can sometimes be expressed in terms of this binomial factor.
  • Rightly identifying a common binomial can easily resolve the polynomial into simpler factors.
Once you have a common factor like (6m - 5n), the next step is essential: factor it out. The remaining expression, (m - 1) for instance, reveals the entire structure of the polynomial. This process is key to simplification and further algebraic manipulation.
Common Factors in Polynomials
Common factors play a vital role in polynomial factoring. They are the numbers or terms that are common across multiple groups within the polynomial. Here's how to find and use them effectively:
  • Identify: Look for terms that repeat across different parts of the polynomial expression.
  • Factor Out: Pull out these common factors from individual groups to simplify the polynomial.
  • Simplify: Once common factors are extracted, the polynomial breaks down into easier components.
Finding common factors requires a careful examination of the terms and often begins with inspecting coefficients and variables. In our example, noticing that m and -1 both link up with the binomial (6m - 5n) is crucial. Factoring them out results in a neater and more manageable expression.

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