Always
check for a . If there is a common factor, find the greatest
common factor (GCF) and factor it out. Once you have factored this out,
check the remaining factor for further factoring.
Check
each factor carefully for the possibility of factoring further. If a factor
can be factored further by any of the techniques stated above, then factor.
Continue to check each new factor for further factoring until no more
factoring is evident.