Math - How to Factor

Learn how to factor algebraic expressions, including the infamous and dreaded quadratic expressions!

4.70 (220 reviews)

Udemy

platform

English

language

Math

What you will learn

Find the greatest common factor (GCF) of two or more numbers

Find the GCF of algebraic expressions

Use the GCF to factor algebraic expressions

Factor algebraic expressions by grouping

Identify and factor special types of algebraic expressions

Factor quadratic expressions

Why take this course?

Taught by a former college math instructor with over 8 years of experience teaching and over 14 years of experience tutoring.

This course will teach you how to factor with the GCF (greatest common factor), how to factor by grouping, how to factor special types of expressions, and most importantly, how to factor the well-known-but-not-so-well-liked quadratic expression.

We begin with an outline of the topics to be discussed, then we jump right in with explanations and examples. Each section has explanations, examples, and review worksheets with full solutions. The solutions are provided in separate documents so you can do the worksheets without having the answers in front of you. Sort of like a mini self-quiz.

Why take this course? It will make your life significantly easier in your math classes, leading to an easier life in general. Factoring is one of the most important concepts taught in math at this level. It is widely used in more advanced math classes for things like solving equations and performing other, more advanced operations. Please trust me when I say that your future math courses - and even your current course later on - will be very difficult if you do not have adequate factoring skills. I have seen it myself too many times. Students in more advanced courses like precalculus and calculus (and beyond) struggle with the concepts early on in those courses because they don't have a solid background in the basics, including and especially factoring. I can't count how often I've seen this, and I'm usually pretty good at counting stuff.

But really, it's an important skill to have, and an absolutely indispensable one if you are planning to continue taking courses in math.

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Reviews

Rhonda

February 23, 2022

I am retired and have wanted to get back into Math, especially Algebra, as I have never really understood it. I love Chris Wingard's style of teaching, very thorough, well thought out and systematic. I feel I now have a lot more confidence and am looking forward to further challenges. I enjoyed this course. Thank you very much!!

Enya

December 7, 2020

Instruction is very clear and thorough. Each session is just the right length of time so I can grasp the concept. There are practice exercises in pdf form in order to quiz yourself on the recently-learned topic. I, however, haven't been able to open any of the links to the 'answer sheets' for said quizzes.

Shayaan

July 7, 2020

I think this course is great in terms of method. I never thought I could factor quadratics in the way I just learnt!

Glenn

December 11, 2019

I was reluctant to enroll in this course as it was free, however I desperately needed some clarification on factoring. I enrolled with the expectation of "you get what you pay for", but this course defies that. An excellent course, detailed without bogging down, clear and paced with a voice that does not send me to sleep.

Raymond

July 14, 2018

Good review of factoring for students with some prior exposure and/or a good way to learn for those not familiar with factoring techniques.

Gerard

December 13, 2017

On the negative side: His '4' looks like a 'y'. I was so locked into the lessons that I did not notice it till near the end of the course. On the positive side: This is a very engaging course, and the explanations I found to be quite understandable even after one viewing. As with any subject practice makes perfect. Therefore the course content, formulas and rules he has focused on, plus the sound quality and the practice tests in pdf, makes this course deserving of five points.

Bruce

October 24, 2017

Simple to follow and easily understand a complicated subject, Factoring is one of the most challenging aspects of Algebra and precalculus, and this course gives you simple step-by-step factoring up to quadratics. Keep your notes for easy reference later on.

Daniel

September 18, 2017

A fantastic course, starting off with the basic fundamentals, and gradually progressing and easing you in to the more complex algebraic expressions, and how to factor them. The instructor was clear and easy to understand.

Ariel

September 2, 2017

This teacher Rocks! very clear explaining math. You just made my life easier. Since I was high School I have trouble understanding mathematics. And Chris made it like Magic. A natural genes and talent in Teaching. I will definitely buy your next tutorial!!

Eric

April 13, 2017

I am an idiot with math and this is helping me learn something I should have learned long ago. I have had the hardest time learning factoring, and the short GCF lesson got me understanding every concept now!!!

Annie

March 2, 2017

I can't believe I survived this course :) A terrific learning curve in algebra I don't recall in high school, or perhaps back in the day these sums were done somewhat differently in Scotland. I chose to learn these to keep up with a child working through these in Australia. Whilst my head in somewhat swimming, I'm glad I took this course. Chris does a pretty good job of explaining the "whys" and "how to's" and builds from the basics to the harder sums. There are homework downloads to help cement the lessons in place. This course is definitely real brain food, and I'm sure I will reference it again in the future.

Todd

February 8, 2017

Information on factoring in general is excellent. However, when factoring quadratics with leading coefficients greater than 1, there are several choices in methods. While factor by grouping as shown here gets us to the end, it is still a trial and error method, and for large coefficients, becomes very tedious. I suggest that the author take a look at slip and slide. It works as quickly and easily as his method for factoring quadratics with a leading coefficient of one.

Kellie

January 23, 2017

The only reason I am leaving this low rating is because I have finished the course but it says I'm not finished. I have left a question but no one has answered my question. I loved the course and the instructor but the response to questions is not good at all. Thank you I change my rare because someone from udemy emailed me and told me how to get my certificate. I appreciate it very much. The instructor was great and I am looking forward to taking more of his classes.

Vickie

July 13, 2016

The instructor is very detailed in the way he explains each step. He doesn't not assume that you already know factoring. He breaks it down into simple steps that most people should be able to follow along.

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