Factored form refers to the expression of a number or polynomial as a product of its simplest possible form. For example, the factored form of 12y^2 - 27 is 3(2y+3)(2y-3) . In the case of quadratic functions, factored form is a product of two linear factors, and converting a quadratic function to factored form is called factoring.

When finding the factored form of a polynomial, it is important to consider the following points:

• Check for any common terms (GCD).
• Look for any algebraic identities that are applicable.
• Keep factoring until you reach the simplest form, i.e. the form which is not further divisible.

An expression in factored form can be rewritten in standard form by expanding it, which means multiplying out the factors.

In summary, factored form is a way of expressing a number or polynomial as a product of its simplest possible form, and it is particularly useful when dealing with quadratic functions.