Talk:Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick

How is this a factoring "trick"? Isn't that the definition of expanding two binomials? Why would something like this even need to be quoted in a math contest?

---

The author of that last comment is clearly not familiar with the history behind the name of the factoring method (or is aware of the fact that it's easier to expand than factor by a nontrivial degree), nor the reason for naming it. It might be best to begin with the brief history of the name, including a link to Simon's post in which he proclaims it his favorite factoring trick.--MCrawford 01:47, 20 June 2006 (EDT)

The thread posted is not the original SFFT thread. It should be from June 2003 (I think).--MCrawford 12:20, 20 June 2006 (EDT)