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Factorise

Afrikaans: Faktoriseer

Express the given expression as a product of its factors, and leave the answer in that factored form. Do not solve for a variable, set anything equal to zero, or expand the brackets again, the question is complete once the expression is written as a product.

Common mistake

Factorising correctly and then unnecessarily setting the expression to zero to solve for x. This loses marks because you have gone beyond what was asked and effectively answered a different question ('solve' instead of 'factorise'). A second common error is not factorising fully, stopping at (2)(x² − 4) instead of continuing to (2)(x − 2)(x + 2). 'Factorise fully' means no factor can be factorised further.

Signal phrases

These are the words that tell you this instruction is being used.

  • Factorise fully
  • Factorise the expression
  • Factorise completely

Past paper examples

Factorise fully: 2x² + 5x − 3

Source: DBE Mathematics Paper 1, May/June 2022, Question 1.1

Test yourself

Before you read the answer, what is this question asking you to do?

Factorise fully: 3x³ − 12x

Practice question: not from a past paper

Where this comes up