If students will hear me out, I usually show them how to factor quadratics that have a leading coefficient by splitting the middle term (instead of using other tricks). I’ve noticed that it introduces them to the idea that a GCF doesn’t only have to be a monomial but that it can be a binomial quantity, which in turn helps them with more difficult factoring in Precalculus and also with simplifying derivatives in Calculus!

 

This was just an extra post today in addition to my daily posts for you students! See you tomorrow!