IGCSE Maths / Working with algebra

Factorising with a common factor

Edexcel International GCSE Maths (4MA1), chapter 4: Working with algebra, specification point 2.2d-f. Part of the full course.

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Factorising rewrites an expression as a product by taking out the highest common factor of its terms. It reverses expanding, and expanding your answer back checks that the expression is unchanged.

More lessons in Working with algebra

• Order of operations
• Collecting like terms
• Substituting into expressions and formulae
• Index laws with algebraic terms
• Fractional indices
• Expanding a single bracket
• Expanding double brackets
• Expanding triple brackets
• Factorising quadratics of the form x squared plus bx plus c
• Factorising with a coefficient
• Difference of two squares
• Writing and deriving a formula
• Changing the subject of a formula
• When the subject has a power on it