What is factored form?

Factored form is a way of expressing a polynomial as a product of its factors. It is often written in the form [P(x) = a(x - r_1)(x - r_2)(x - r_3)...(x - r_n)] where (a) is the leading coefficient, (r_1, r_2, r_3, ..., r_n) are the roots of the polynomial, and (n) is the degree of the polynomial.

Factoring a polynomial into its factored form can be useful for finding the roots of the polynomial, simplifying the polynomial for easier analysis, and solving equations involving the polynomial.

Factored form is particularly helpful in understanding the behavior of a polynomial, such as identifying the x-intercepts of the graph. It also helps in analyzing the multiplicity of a root, and determining the end behavior of the graph.