Question

what method of factoring should first be used?
$x^3 + 7x^2 + 12x$
answer
greatest common factor difference of perfect squares
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Explanation:

First, check if all terms share a common factor. The expression $x^3 + 7x^2 + 12x$ has $x$ as a factor in every term, so factoring out the greatest common factor is the initial step. The other methods apply to expressions without a common factor or with specific structures (like perfect squares or unfactored trinomials) which don't apply here first.

Answer:

Greatest Common Factor