Our Math Tutor’s Tips On How To Master Factorisation

After mastering the basics of algebra, the next key thing you will learn in secondary school math is expansion and factorisation. Like two sides of a coin, expansion and factorisation are complementary to each other – one is the reverse operation of the other.

While the basics of factorisation seem simple, complex questions can be very difficult to solve. Yet, being confident in factorisation is an essential skill as it is an intermediate step in solving a lot of algebraic questions later on.

If you are feeling the steep learning curve in algrebraic factorisation, you don’t need to struggle alone! Here are some tips from our IP Math tutors at Future Academy!

Collate a skills checklist

There are many strategies you can use to factorise an algebraic equation. At this level, some of the techniques you should know include:

• Taking out the common factors
• Using algebraic identities
• Cross-multiplication

If you are in our math tuition class, you’ll know that we provide comprehensive notes and cheatsheets which are immensely useful for revision! We also encourage students to make their own summary sheet so that they can process the concepts while collating the information.

With a skills checklist, you can quickly refer to it if you are stuck while practising, to jog your memory. If you are coming back to this topic after a while, the checklist will also help you recall the skills without having to flip through your entire notes again.

Develop a answering strategy

Knowing the skills is not enough. You need to be able to recognise WHEN to use the RIGHT skills. Most factorisation questions won’t be telling you which method to use, so you need to know the clues to look out for. Some complex questions may also require a combination of techniques to solve.

If you are having trouble with this, our math tuition classes can help! During lessons, our Math tutors will walk students through the step-by-step thought process of solving questions. It might also help to list out the steps explicitly in a flowchart of how to answer factorisation questions. For example:

• Step 1: Look for common factors to extract.
• Step 2: If there are no common factors, can you sort and group the terms first, then extract common factors for each bracket?
• Step 3: Observe if the expression matches any algebraic identities – if yes, you can use the identity to factorise it.
• Step 4: If the above doesn’t work, can you convert the expression into standard form and perform cross-multiplication factorisation.

Try your hands using your own flowchart method with the practice questions below!

Get comfortable with factors and multiples

Factorisation relies a lot on having ‘good number sense’. There is no quick shortcut on the calculator to help you find common factors. Thus, if you are having trouble with getting the right factors in the cross-multiplication method, you may need to go back to basics and master your multiplication tables.

Use flashcards to quiz yourself on common factors of random pairs of numbers, until you can be very quick and sure of your ability to find the common factors. If you attend a class at Future Academy, our tutors will also be happy to provide extra practice worksheets to help you hone your factorisation skills!

Conclusion

Once you’ve built your checklist, strategy and number sense, the next step is practice, practice, practice. Factorisation will become more intuitive the more you do it. But don’t just drill questions blindly — make sure you are reviewing your answers to spot any errors in your strategy, and time yourself to ensure that you are solving them in good time.

If you’re still unsure or feel stuck, you might benefit from structured support through tuition. A good secondary math tutor can help identify what’s holding you back, explain difficult steps, and provide guided practice to boost your confidence – the same goes for any other topics in secondary school math!

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