Week 6 — Readings & Resources · Polynomials & Factoring

Course: College Algebra (MATH 120) · Silver Oak University (fictional sample) · Prof. Calloway
Objective covered: Objective 5 — Perform operations on polynomials and factor polynomial expressions using the GCF, trinomial factoring, the difference of squares, and factoring by grouping.

How to use this page

Everything here is a link to an external resource — open it in your browser. Nothing needs to be downloaded.

This week's load is deliberately focused: ~2 readings + ~2 videos, grouped by the lecture's two main ideas (operations, then factoring). Read or watch one item per group and you're ready for the quiz; do all of them and you'll be very comfortable. Total time is roughly 45–60 minutes if you do everything, far less if you pick one per group.

Reading order that matches the lecture: ① polynomial operations (add/subtract/multiply, FOIL, special products) → ② factoring (GCF, trinomials, difference of squares, grouping).

A habit to reinforce: after completing the Lecture Tutorial this week, you'll have caught a chatbot dropping the 2ab middle term. Keep that checking posture as you read — if a source's worked example skips a step, verify it by hand.

Heads-up (links rot): these point to outside sites that occasionally move or rename pages. If a link ever fails, tell Prof. Calloway and use the Paul's Online Math Notes reference at the bottom in the meantime.

① Polynomial Operations: Adding, Subtracting, Multiplying & Special Products

Maps to Lecture Segments 2–3. FOIL and the three special products — (a+b)², (a−b)², (a+b)(a−b) = a²−b².

Reading — "Polynomials" (OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, §1.4)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/1-4-polynomials
Why it's assigned: a clean walkthrough of polynomial terminology, addition, subtraction, multiplication (including FOIL and all three special products), with worked examples that mirror the lecture's approach. Read through "Special Products."
⏱ ~12 min

Reading — "Polynomials" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/Polynomials.aspx
Why it's assigned: a compact, example-driven set of notes with extra practice problems at the end. Especially good for the special products — the examples are laid out step by step.
⏱ ~10 min

② Factoring Polynomials: GCF, Trinomials, Difference of Squares & Grouping

Maps to Lecture Segments 4–6. GCF first, then matching the polynomial's shape to a strategy.

Reading — "Factoring Polynomials" (OpenStax, College Algebra 2e, §1.5)
🔗 https://openstax.org/books/college-algebra-2e/pages/1-5-factoring-polynomials
Why it's assigned: covers every factoring method from this week — GCF, trinomials with leading coefficient 1, trinomials by grouping (AC method), perfect-square trinomials, and difference of squares — with worked examples and real-world area problems. Read through "Factoring a Difference of Squares."
⏱ ~14 min

Reading — "Factoring Polynomials" (Paul's Online Math Notes — Algebra)
🔗 https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/Factoring.aspx
Why it's assigned: Paul's factoring notes are well-known for their clarity on the sign-choice rules for trinomials and on knowing when to try which strategy. Good second read if the first reading leaves any step unclear.
⏱ ~12 min

Video — "Factoring the Greatest Common Factor (GCF)" (Professor Leonard)
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EnklHkVKXI
Why it earns the click: an unhurried, board-level walkthrough of GCF factoring from Professor Leonard's Intermediate Algebra series — great if you want to see every step before practicing on your own.
⏱ ~30 min (skip to the sections you need)

Video — "Factoring Trinomials" (Professor Leonard)
🔗 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhPyfvAxjEg
Why it earns the click: Professor Leonard's thorough treatment of factoring trinomials with leading coefficient 1 (the x²+bx+c type) — ideal if the lecture and reading examples went by too fast.
⏱ ~45 min (skim to the parts you need)

Optional one-stop references (free online)

If you'd like references to return to all term:
🔗 Paul's Algebra notes (full set): https://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/classes/alg/alg.aspx
🔗 Professor Leonard — College Algebra / Trigonometry playlist: https://m.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDesaqWTN6ESsmwELdrzhcGiRhk5DjwLP
Why they're here: reputable, currently-available resources you can revisit in later weeks — entirely optional this week.

Pick-one quick path (≈20 min total)

In a hurry? Do exactly these and you'll be ready for Quiz 6:
1. Read OpenStax §1.4 — Polynomials (group ①) through "Special Products."
2. Read OpenStax §1.5 — Factoring Polynomials (group ②) through "Factoring a Difference of Squares."