factoring
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈfæktɝɪŋ// UK //fˈæktəɹɪŋ// fac·tor·ing
n. the process of breaking down a number or an expression into smaller parts that can be multiplied together to get the original. It is like finding the building blocks of a math problem.
n. the decomposition of an integer or polynomial into a product of smaller integers or polynomials. In mathematics, it refers to the identification of the factors of a number or expression.
Factoring the number 12 gives us 2, 3, and 4.
The student struggled with factoring the quadratic equation until she realized the pattern of the coefficients.
In algebraic geometry, factoring a polynomial into irreducible components allows researchers to analyze the underlying structure of the curve or surface it represents.