| binomial | a sum of two monomials, such as 3x2 + 7 |
| coefficient | a number that multiplies a variable |
| Distributive Property | states that the product of a number and a sum equals the sum of the individual products of the number and the addends: for all real numbers a, b, and c, a(b + c) = ab + ac |
| factor | for any number x, the numbers that can be evenly divided into x are called factors of x. For example, the number 20 has the factors 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, and 20. |
| factored form of a polynomial | a polynomial written as a product of factors, and each non-monomial factor has no common factors in its terms |
| factoring | the process of breaking a number down into its multiplicative factors. Every number x has at least the numbers 1 and x as factors. |
| greatest common factor (GCF) | the largest factor that two numbers have in common |
| grouping technique | a factoring technique involving finding common factors among groups of terms rather than among all of terms |
| monomial | a number, a variable, or a product of a number and one or more variables with whole number exponents, such as -5, x, and 8xy3 |
| perfect square | any of the squares of the integers. Since 12 = 1, 22 = 4, 32 = 9, etc., 1, 4, and 9 are perfect squares |
| perfect square trinomial | a trinomial that is the product of a binomial times itself, such as r2 + 2rs + s2 (from (r + s)2), and r2 – 2rs + s2 (from (r – s)2) |
| polynomial | a monomial or sum of monomials, like 4x2 + 3x – 10 |
| prime factor | a factor that has no factors but 1 and itself. For example, 2 is a prime factor of 12 because its only factors are 1 and 2, while 6 is not a prime factor of 12 because it has more factors than 1 and 6 (i.e. 2 and 3). |
| prime factorization | the process of breaking a number down into its prime factors |
| prime trinomial | a trinomial that cannot be factored using integers |
| quadratic equation | an equation that can be written in the form ax2 + bx + c = 0 where a ¹ 0. When written as y = ax2 + bx + c the expression becomes a quadratic function. |
| root of an equation | any number that makes the equation true when the variable is equal to that number. That is, a solution of the equation. |
| trinomial | a three-term polynomial |
| Zero Product Property | states that if ab = 0, then either a = 0 or b = 0, or both a and b are 0 |