Unit 3: Factors and Products

Although students explored the multiplication and division of polynomials in Grade 9, this is their first exposure to the factorization of polynomials. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the multiplication of polynomial expressions and trinomial factoring concretely, pictorially and symbolically. Factoring and multipyling polynomials will be explored through the use of algebra tiles and rectangle diagrams and will be taught simultaneously to reinforce their inverse relationship. Students will first explore common factors, and then proceed to multiplying binomials and to factor polynomials of the form x^2 +bx+c. The models and algebraic methods will then be extended to multiplying binomials where one or both of the coefficients of the variable terms are not equal to 1 and proceed to factor polyomials of the form ax^2 +bx+c. Special polynomials such as perfect squares and difference of squares will also be addressed. Students will identify and explain errors in a polynomial factorization. Error analysis should further deepen student understanding of the multiplication and factorization of polynomials.

****Factors and Products Test Wednesday November 6th****