Find the greatest common factor first
Group terms if there are four terms
Use the difference of squares pattern: a² – b² = (a – b)(a + b)
Use the perfect square trinomial patterns: a² + 2ab + b² = (a + b)² and a² – 2ab + b² = (a – b)²
Factor trinomials of the form x² + bx + c
Factor trinomials of the form ax² + bx + c
Use the sum and difference of cubes patterns
Rewrite the expression if needed to reveal a common factor or pattern
Check the factors by multiplying them back together