The direction to a problem state that you are to factor the algebraic expression. What is your first step?

Find the factors of the leading coefficient.

Determine if there is a greatest common factor among all the terms.

Determine if the expression is even or odd.

Find the degree of the expression.

1 answer

The first step to factor the algebraic expression is to determine if there is a greatest common factor among all the terms. Once the greatest common factor has been identified, you can factor it out of the expression.