According to the four-step method for factoring the GCF from a polynomial, what is the very first step?

1. The four-step method begins by finding the GCF of every term in the polynomial. 2. Only after the GCF is identified does the method move to rewriting each term as a product using that GCF. 3. Checking the answer by multiplying the factors is the final step, used to confirm the result, not to start the process. 4. Expanding terms with the Distributive Property is the reverse operation used for multiplying, not for beginning to factor. _Source: OpenStax Elementary Algebra (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Factoring", section 7.1 Greatest Common Factor and Factor by Grouping_