Let's learn how to factor quadratics where the leading coefficient isn't 1 without guessing and checking. (Okay I know that sounds boring but I like this video lol)

WOW, I've never seen this! I teach my students the box method for a = 1 and factoring by grouping for when a is not 1, and they struggle with factoring by grouping. This might be worth a try this year! Thank you!

There should be a name for this: “Use Guess and Check or Howie’s Elimination”

In Spain we had to memorize this. And I still remember :) I wish I got a better explanation that time.

@howie_hua THIS GUY IS GREAT. I wish to heck he'd been my H.S. math teacher. I was great at geometry because I could "see" it. Algebra made no sense (but now I can see it).

Amazing!.... Mr. Howie, have you written a book? If so, where can I get it?

Howie, 34 yo over here. Where were you when I was in school?

Love it 😍, you provided a complete and thorough explanation of this technique!!! Awesome 👏🏾💜 #mathmatters

NO! It’s not boring at all! I’m an undergraduate tutor at my college and have just recently signed up to lead tutor college algebra. These little “boring” videos are amazing for those that may have an issue with factoring. I hope you don’t mind but I’ll be using these!

9x & 4x

(3x + 4)(x + 3)

I teach this long form method even starting with a leading coefficient of 1. It seems like students do better with applying the most complicated approach first and learning what shortcuts can be taken with monic quadratics, differences of squares, etc.

9 and 4. But what you did if you have numbers like 1,26 or 5,51? In this case I can't use this method, or?

Why? Why not use the universal quadratic solver (-b+\-sqrt(bxb + 4ac)/2a ? 😊