Factoring is the process of expressing a number or polynomial as a product of its factors. Factors are the building blocks of numbers and polynomials, and understanding how to factor is essential for a variety of mathematical operations. For example, factoring can be used to simplify expressions, solve equations, and find the roots of polynomials.
There are a variety of methods for factoring, depending on the type of number or polynomial being factored. Some of the most common factoring methods include: