This tutorial is made to be quick and easy for anyone struggling to factoring.We’ll use a well kept secret called cross factoring to get through it. Quick and painless.

So lets begin. Here is a common example of a quadratic equation. I’ll refer to the three sets of variables as terms.

Step 1: Rewrite the equation and draw a large X under it with room on the side.

Step 2: We’ll work with x^2 first. How many x’s are there? Two obviously. So put one x on the top left and one x on the bottom left.The left side will always be where the first term goes.

Step 3: Now we’ll work with the third term, +6. Think to yourself what two numbers you could multiply to get 6. 3 and 2, or 6 and 1.

Step 4: Here is the hard part. On the side, cross multiply all four terms. x(top left) times 7, and x(bottom left) times 5 .Which set will give you the middle term, 7 (from 7x)?…Thats right, its 6 and 1. 6+1=7. You don’t need to pay attention to the x in the middle term here.

Step 5: Now just rewrite it from left to right as shown below. The answer is (x+6)(x+1)

This is called cross factoring. Its quick and easy. Check out my next lesson Factoring Harder Quadratics for idiots . Feel free to comment and subscribe for weekly updates

If you haven’t read the first tutorial on quadratics and don’t know cross factoring, read it here Factoring Quadratics for idiots. If you still don’t get it, read it again, and remember…

“Mathematics is a game played according to certain simple rules with meaningless marks on paper.” — David Hilbert

So lets start with the meaningless marks!

This example is a bit harder than the last.

Step 1: Start off rewriting the equation again with an X underneath.

Step 2: Next, we’ll work with the first term. What can be multiplied together to get 4x²? 4x and 1x or 2x and 2x . So write each set on the left of the X

Ok, DON’T GIVE UP NOW. This is probably the hardest ( ok, maybe not hard, but long as hell). and remember… this is factoring the easy way, not that stupid way your teacher was trying to teach you as you were doodling.

Step 3: Leave the left side alone and move on to the right side. The ultimate question is What two numbers can i cross multiply to get 12, and when i add them, i get -19 Write out all the possibilities on the side. Starting with the most common factors. 3 and 4, 6 and 2, 12 and 1.

Step 4: We have 5 sets of numbers here. 2 on the left and 3 on the right. Follow this procedure. Cross multiply each set on the right with each set on the left then add the two numbers. Do this until you get -19 as the sum. Take a look

Step 5: So we cross multiplied 3 and 4 with 4x and 1x and got 19…but we need -19! Now for the easy part. If you need the opposite sign, leave the left side alone and change the terms on the right. 4 and 3 must be negative since -4*4 = -16, -3*1= -3, and -16+(-3)= -19

Step 6: Rewrite it from left to right and you get. (4x-3)(x-4) You can check your answer by FOIL.

And there you have it, another tedious factoring problem solved with cross factoring method!
Stay tuned for more easy algebra tutorials!

This question has been asked time and again since the first algebra class. Why is algebra easy as cake for some and harder than rocket science for others? Well, the answer lies within. Do you know how you learn? Do you learn visually or would you rather work with something hands-on?

Well, maybe you know what I’m getting to. Whether you’re good or bad at math probably has something to do with what side of the brain you use. If your left brain is dominant, you probably wouldnt be reading this post. If your right brain is dominant…well chances are , you are right brain dominant.

Perhaps some of us are brainless and we just do what this guy says.

“In mathematics, you don’t understand things. You just get used to them.” — Johann von Neumann

Ok, maybe not. Here is a quick test to tell whether your brain works from the left or the right side. This image is originally created by Nobuyuki Kayahara and was recently posted on the Herald Sun.

If you see the dancer going clockwise then you mostly use the right side of your brain and if you see the dancer going counter clockwise then your mostly left sided. Here is a chart to summarize the functions of each side. Maybe you’ll learn something new about yourself.

Now you know which side of your brain is dominant! Whats next? Become “whole brained”. Instead of spending your free time doing one or two things, enjoy a variety of things that use both sides of the brain. If your left sided, try putting your imagination to work in some project. If your right sided, perhaps a puzzle of some sort would help now and then. Go ahead and integrate! Put your brain to its best use.

This might be the best way to get yourself to understand algebra. If your someone who tries and tries but just doesn’t get it, give your brain a workout and the answer to your equation will be clear.

Ok, time for the super easy guide to y=mx+b. This one should be a breeze.Before we start, a little background just in case you’ve forgot.

1,They’re called linear because they represent straight lines on the Cartesian plane(x,y).

2. m = slope, or the incline of the line.

3. b = where the line hits the y plane.

Ok thats all you need to know. Onto the problem!

Go ahead and draw a small (x,y) plane.

Step 1: The first thing we’ll play with will be b. Start from the origin and go up 4 (0,4). Put a dot. If this was -4 we’d go down 4 instead of up.

Step 2: Now we’ll use 2x (mx) to find the slope. With this number, we’ll find out how far we’ll have to go starting from y. Put the 2 over 1 to make this easier. The numerator will determine how far up/down we go. The denominator will determine how far left/right we go.

Step 3: Depending on whether the numerator/denominator is positive or negative will determine what direction we go. Take a look at the black box , since 2 and 1 are positive, we’ll go up 2 and right 1. Remember to start from y, not the origin!

There we go. Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy!
Linear Equations continued coming up tommorow. As always, feel free to comment and check out the archives on the side.

Okay this quick lesson is based on Vedic Math. Vedic Math is an ancient system of math that was discovered inthe early 1900’s by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji, i’m guessing he is of indian origin since the name “Sri” is given to men and women of the Sikh religion. Just as Mr or Mrs is given as a title in the english world.

Onto the trick. It’s quite simple. This lets you square numbers in and around 100 without a calculator. Awesome
Take a look