In
mathematics,
factorization (
also factorisation in some forms of British English) or
factoring is the decomposition of an object (for example, a
number, a
polynomial, or a
matrix) into a
product of other objects, or
factors, which when
multiplied together give the original. For example, the number 15 factors into
primes as 3 × 5, and the polynomial
x2 - 4 factors as (
x - 2)(
x + 2). In all cases, a product of simpler objects is obtained.