If you have a binomial like 6x²-5x-4, you can use our new “Slide and Divide” calculator in order to factor the binomial using the “bottoms up” method, which will give you a simpler form such as (3x-4)(2x+1). You can click below or use this link to access the calculator.

The calculator auto-completes the results as you type. Try it out! After receiving lots of support and feedback on our original “multiplies to and adds to” factoring calculator, we decided to create a new and improved version.

Rather than only updating the calculations when users provide valid inputs, we’ve decided to show errors as well, in order to help people spot their mistakes more efficiently. Additionally, this calculator supports any binomial, including those with an x² coefficient that is not 1, or a binomial with a greatest common divisor that needs to be factored out.

Hopefully this all makes sense to you. If not, you can always let the calculator do the work for you. However, if you really want to understand how the calculation process works, you can check out this cool video, which goes into much more detail on the “bottoms up” method: