GROUP WORKSHEET:

FACTORING ax
2
+ bx + c


In the previous section, we learned how to play the factoring game taking
a trinomial like

x
2
!11x + 24 and asking ourselves, What two numbers
multiply to make 24, and add to make 11?

Okay, easy 3 and 8. So

x
2
!11x + 24 factors into (x 3)(x 8).

But did you notice that all of the trinomials we factored started with just a
plain x-squared at the beginning?

So what happens when we try to play the game with something like this:

2x
2
+14x + 24


1. (a) What two numbers multiply to make 24, and add to make 14?
___________ and ___________


(b) Therefore, we think that 2x
2
+14x + 24 factors into:
( )( )

(c) Use FOIL to multiply together the two binomials from part (b).






(d) Compare the result from part (c) with the original polynomial.
Do you see any differences?



(e) What number was ignored when we played the game ?
So, we have a little bit of a problem with our game. Somehow, we have to
revise our method to take the leading coefficient into account (the number
that comes before the

x
2
):

2. (a) Multiply the leading coefficient by the constant term:
2x
2
+14x + 24


(b) Use that answer to start playing the game!
What two numbers multiply to make ________, and add to make +14?




(c) Take the two numbers from part (b), and use them to split up our
center term, +14x:



2x
2
+14x + 24 = 2x
2
+ _____+ _____+ 24


(d) You now have a four-term polynomial. Factor it by grouping.







See? Its a little bit longer of a process, but you can still play the game.

Now start working on your homework due Monday, on separate paper.
You will only need to submit one copy of this Group Worksheet for your entire
group, but each person should submit their own homework assignment, like
normal.

If you have time left in class, you can begin working on these exercises
together.

[p.552] #36-51 (multiples of 3), 57-60, 64, 66-68, 72-80.