The Bridge Method of Factoring

The bridge method of factoring can help in graphing functions.
••• chalk board image by Brett Bouwer from Fotolia.com

A quadratic equation is a polynomial function typically increased to the second power. The equation is represented by terms composed of a variable and constants. A quadratic equation in its classic form is ax^2+bx+c=0, where x is a variable and the letters are coefficients. You can use a quadratic equation for graphing, using the variable and coefficients as plotting points. The most important points are termed "zeroes," or "roots," and can be found by using the bridge method of factoring.

    Remove any coefficients from the leading term. If the equation is 3x^2 - 2x + 3 = 0, then multiply all of the terms by 3 to remove the leading coefficient to obtain x^2 - 6x + 9 = 0.

    Determine what factors of the modified constant term will produce the sum of the second term. When -3 is multiplied by -3, the result is 9. -3 added to -3 will produce the sum of -6.

    Write the quadratic equation in factored form. x^2 - 6 + 9 = 0 becomes (x-3) (x-3) = 0.

    Divide the numerical constants in the factored form by the coefficient removed in the beginning. Move the coefficient to the beginning of the factored form. So (x-3) (x-3) = 0 should become 3(x-1/3) (x-1/3) = 0.

    Solve the equation for the zeroes. 3(x-1/3) (x-1/3) = 0 becomes (x-1/3) (x-1/3) = 0 and yields that both zeroes are equal to 1/3.

Related Articles

How to Multiply Vectors
How to Help With Polynomials
How to Classify Polynomials by Degree
How to Factor Polynomials of Degree 3
How to Factor Polynomials with Coefficients
How to Factor Polynomials With Fractions
How to Factor Polynomials & Trinomials
How to Factor Polynomials in Factor Four Terms
How to Convert Slope Intercept Form to Standard Form
How to Calculate the Slope of a Tangent
How to Factor Third Power Polynomials
How to Solve for the Determinant of a 4-by-4 Matrix
How to Find the Roots of a Quadratic
How to Find the Slope of Linear Equations
To Calculate Arcsine, What Buttons Do You Press on...
How to Convert Pounds Per Square Foot to PSI
How to Write Quadratic Equations in Vertex Form
How to Complete the Square
How to Find Perpendicular Slope