Final answer:
Factoring is an operation that involves writing an expression as a multiplication of its factors, allowing for simplification and resolution of expressions and equations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The operation referred to in part E, called factoring, involves expressing an algebraic expression as a product of its factors. Factoring is analogous to breaking down a number into a multiplication of other numbers or expressions that, when multiplied together, will give the original number or expression. This process is evident in various computational methods, including unit conversions where factors with units are oriented so that they cancel each other out or combine to yield the desired unit.
For example, when you recognize that a number like 24 is divisible by 8, you might re-express it as 24×10². You've factored 24 into 8×3, then considered 8 to be 10³/10, simplifying the operations. In essence, you are using factoring to simplify the calculation.
Factoring is an essential concept in mathematics because it allows for the simplification of expressions and is also fundamental in solving equations, especially quadratic equations. By reducing a complex expression to a product of simpler ones, we can solve for variables more easily or identify properties of the original expression, such as its zeros or extreme values.