Factors of Algebraic expressions

Factors of Algebraic expressions

We have already learnt prime factor form wherein a number is written as product of prime factors. Similarly we can factorise an algebraic expression.
The irreducible factor of an algebraic term is a factor of the term that cannot be further factorised. An algebraic expression written as the product of its irreducible factors is called the irreducible form of the term.
Expressing an algebraic expression as the product of its factors is called the factorisation of the expression. This is the factor form of the expression.
The factors of an algebraic expression may be numbers or algebraic expression. The basic methods to factorise an algebraic expression are:

• Identifying the common factors
• Regrouping the terms
• Using algebraic identities

The basic identities used to factorise an algebraic expressions are: