Factor Command

This command differs among variants of English:

Factor (US)
Factorise (UK)
Factorise (Aus)

Factor( <Polynomial> ): Factors the polynomial.

Factor(x^2 + x - 6) yields (x - 2) (x + 3).

This command needs to load the Computer Algebra System, so can be slow on some computers.

CAS Syntax

In the CAS View you can also use the following syntax:

Factor( <Number> ): Expresses a number in its prime factorization

Factor(360) yields 2³ 3² 5.

Factor( <Expression>, <Variable> ): Factors an expression with respect to a given variable.

Factor(x^2 - y^2, x) yields (x - y) (x + y), the factorization of x² - y² with respect to x,
Factor(x^2 - y^2, y) yields -(y - x) (y + x), the factorization of x² - y² with respect to y.

This command factors expressions over the Rational Numbers. To factor over irrational real numbers, see the IFactor Command. To factor over complex numbers, see the CFactor Command and CIFactor Command.