FACTORING SPECIAL PRODUCTS

Perfect Square Trinomial

a x +2 abx +b =(ax +b)

2

a x 2 a bx+ b =(axb)

a2 x 2+2 abx y+ b2 y 2=(ax+b y)2

2

a x 2 a bx y +b y =(axb y )
Perfect Cubic Polynomial

a3 x 3+3 b x 2 +3 b2 x+ b3=(ax +b)3

a3 x 33 b x 2+3 b 2 xb 3=(axb)3
a3 x 3+3 b x 2 y+ 3 b2 x y 2+ b3=(ax +b y )3
a3 x 33 b x 2 y +3 b2 x y 2b3=(axb y )3

Difference of Two Squares

Sum of Two Cubes

a3 x 3+ b3 x 3=(ax +b)(a2 x 2a bx +b 2)

Difference of Two Cubes

a3 x 3b3 x 3=(axb)(a 2 x 2+ abx+ b2 )

LAWS OF EXPONENTS
1st Law

an am =a n+m

2nd Law

a
=a nm
m
a

3rd Law

a
m
nm
( n) =a

4th Law

an bn =(ab) n

a
a
=
n
b
b

5th Law

()

an =
a
b

1
n
a

b
a

() ()
=

a2 x 2b2=(ax +b)(ax b)

FINDING THE LEAST COMMON MULTIPLE

of TWO ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS
1) Find their greatest common factor (GCF).
2) Find their product.
3) Divide the expression found in #2 by the expression found in #1.
Example:
Find the LCM of (9x2 81) and (9x2 54x + 81)
1) Find their GCF:
a. Factor both expressions:
9x2 81 = (3x + 9) (3x 9)
9x2 54x + 81 = (3x 9)2
b. Take note of the common factor:
9x2 81 = (3x + 9) (3x 9)
9x2 54x + 81 = (3x 9)2
c. GCF = 3x 9
2) Find their product:
From the factorization in #1a, we take note of the product as
(9x2 81) (9x2 54x + 81) = (3x 9)2 (3x 9)(3x + 9)

3) GCF

( 3 x9 )2(3 x 9)(3 x +9)

=(3 x 9)(3 x+ 9)
(3 x9)