Concept

Factor

In an expression where numbers and variables are being multiplied, each of the values being multiplied is called a factor. A multiplicative expression has anywhere between $2$ and infinitely many factors; the result of multiplication is called a product. $\begin{gathered} \textbf{Factor} & \times & \textbf{Factor} & \times & \textbf{Factor} & = & \textbf{Product}\\ 2 & \times & 3 & \times & 4 & = & 24 \end{gathered}$ Each part of a multiplicative expression that includes variables is also called a factor. $\begin{gathered} \textbf{Factor} & \cdot & \textbf{Factor} & \cdot & \textbf{Factor} & = & \textbf{Product}\\ 2 & \cdot & x & \cdot & 4 & = & 8x \end{gathered}$ When multiplying algebraic expressions, each expression is also called a factor. $\begin{gathered} \overbrace{(x+2)}^{\textbf{Factor}}\overbrace{(x+1)}^{\textbf{Factor}}=\overbrace{x^2+3x+2}^{\textbf{Product}} \end{gathered}$