The distributive law says that for any numbers A,B, and C, A\left(B+C\right)=AB+AC. We saw how to use this rule to expand algebraic terms , but we can also use the rule in reverse.
The reverse of expanding algebraic expressions is called factorising. Factorising an algebraic expression means writing the expression with any common factors between the terms taken outside of the brackets.
Factorise 45t-40.
Factorise the expression -2s-10.
We can use the reverse of distributive law to factorise an algebraic expression like so.AB+AC=A\left(B+C\right)
This means writing the expression with any common factors between the terms taken outside of the brackets. Factorising is the reverse of expanding.