I observed an Algebra class recently where students were trying to multiply two polynomials, (x + 5) and (3x 2 - 5x - 4). And as I roamed the room, I noticed several students who were stuck because ...

To factor a trinomial in the form of ax squared plus bx plus c we are going to use the "ac" method. Notice that the “a” and the “c” are multiplied together and that's exactly what we are going to do.