• Place the cursor at the end of the expression, insert the symbolic evaluation operator, and type the keyword factor in the placeholder. PTC Mathcad factors integers into a product of prime numbers and polynomials or rational functions into a product of lower-order polynomials or rational functions.
To perform a more complete factorization, type a comma after factor, and then type a comma-separated list of radicals occurring in the roots of the expression.
• By default, PTC Mathcad factors a polynomial with rational coefficients into a product of lower-order polynomials with rational coefficients, if possible. For a polynomial such as x2 – 2, which cannot be factored over the rational numbers because its roots are irrational, PTC Mathcad returns the polynomial unchanged.
To factor the polynomial further, type one of its roots, √2, after the keyword factor.
• To factor a polynomial with complex roots, insert the complex number i after factor.
• If you do not know the roots of the polynomial, perform the following steps:
1. Solve the polynomial first by using the keyword solve.
2. Copy and paste the radical appearing in the roots, or either one of the roots themselves, into the placeholder after the keyword factor.
