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1.2 Greatest Common Factor: Vocabulary

Binomial

A polynomial with two terms.

Factor A factor is a number, variable or quantity that is being multiplied.

Two factors:

Three factors:

Two factors:

2 (x+1)

Two factors

(x-3)(x² + 2x + 1)

Factoring, To Factor a Quantity, To Rewrite a Quantity as a Product

To rewrite a quantity as factors or to rewrite a quantity as something times something else:

The factored form of

The factored form of  

The factored form of  

Remember, the operation of multiplication holds factors together.

Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

The largest integer, variable or quantity factor that is a factor of all of the given terms.

;

GCF = 2

GCF = x

;

GCF = x +1

Monomial

A polynomial with one term.

Polynomial

A sum or difference of terms, where the exponents are positive integers or 0 and the coefficients are real numbers.  The word polynomial comes from Greek words (“polus”  and “nomos” ) meaning “many parts.”

A polynomial with 4 terms:

A polynomial with 2 terms:

Not a polynomial:

(why?)

Term A single number, a single variable or a group of factors. Terms are separated by plus signs, minus signs or equal signs.

1 term

5

1 term:

2 terms:

3(x+1) + x(x+1)

1 term

a

4 terms:

3x⁵ + 2x³ 1x + 5

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