What does it mean to "factor" an expression, and what does it have to do with multiplication? In your response, use a numerical example to help you explain.
Look at the problem I just showed you how to do below this one.
https://www.mathsisfun.com/definitions/distributive-law.html
To "factor" an expression means to break it down into two or more simpler expressions that can be multiplied together to give the original expression. Factoring is closely related to multiplication because it involves finding the factors or smaller components of a given expression.
Let's take an example to understand this concept better. Consider the expression 6x + 9. To factor this expression, we look for common factors that can be factored out. In this case, both terms have a common factor of 3. So, we can factor out 3 from both terms, resulting in:
3(2x + 3)
Now, we have factored the expression 6x + 9 into two simpler expressions: 3 and (2x + 3). If we multiply these two factors together, we will get the original expression: 3 * (2x + 3) = 6x + 9.
Factoring helps us simplify algebraic expressions and make them easier to work with. It can also help us identify patterns, find common factors, or solve equations more efficiently. In this example, factoring allowed us to break down the expression into smaller parts that we can manipulate separately, which can be especially useful when solving equations and simplifying complex expressions.