MATHEMATICS 8 MASTERY TEST REVIEWER prepared by: Mr.

Diao

UNIT 1: FACTORING POLYNOMIALS

5 kinds of Factoring Techniques:

1. Greatest Common Monomial Factor or GCMF

xy + xz = x(y + z)

Example: -6x3 + 10xy2 = -2x(3x2 - 5y2)

2. Difference of Two Squares

x2 – y2 = (x + y)(x – y)

Example 1: 9x2y6 – 25z4 = (3xy3 – 5z2)(3xy3 + 5z2)

Example 2: 4x2 – 64 = 4(x – 16) = 4(x + 4)(x – 4)

 This is one example on how you Factor COMPLETELY: the procedures in this case are
GCMF first, then Factor Difference of Two Squares

Example 3: 16y4 – 81 = (4y2 – 9)(4y2 + 9) = (2y -3)(2y + 3)(4y2 + 9)

 This is one example on how you Factor COMPLETELY: the procedures in this case are Factor
Difference of Two Squares, and since 4y2 – 9 can still be factored, that’s why it was factored
using Difference of Two Squares again making it (2y – 3)(2y + 3). Thus, the complete factors are
(2y -3)(2y + 3)(4y2 + 9).

3. Sum or Difference of Two Cubes

x3 ± y3 = (x ± y)(x2 ± xy + y2)

Example 1: 8x6 + 27y12 = (2x2 + 3y4)(4x4 – 6x2y4 + 9y8)

Example 2: x3y15 – 125 = (xy5 – 5)(x2y10 + 5xy5 + 25)

4. Perfect Square Trinomials

x2 ± 2xy + y2 = (x ± y)2 or (x ± y)(x ± y) in expanded form

Example 1: 9x2 – 30xy + 25y2 = (3x – 5y)2 or (3x – 5y)(3x – 5y)

Example 2: 4x2 + 12xy2 + 9y4 = (2x + 3y2)2 or (2x + 3y2)(2x + 3y2)

5. General Trinomials

Two Methods:

a. Normal Method – if the 1st term’s coefficient is 1.

Example 1: x2 + 3x – 10 = (x + 5)(x – 2)

Example 2: a2 – 3a – 40 = (a – 8)(a + 5)

b. AC Method – if the 1st term’s coefficient is NOT 1.

Example 1:

Multiply 1st and 2nd coefficient: (2)(-6) = -12

Find factors of -12 that when added, will result to 1 as the 2nd coefficient: “4” and “-3”
 MATHEMATICS 8 MASTERY TEST REVIEWER prepared by: Mr. Diao

Rewrite: 2x2 + 4x -3x – 6

Group: (2x2 + 4x) + (-3x – 6)
Find GCMF: 2x(x + 2) + -3(x + 2)
Combine GCMFs and copy the common: (2x – 3)(x + 2)

Example 2: 3m2 – 5m – 12 = 3m2 - 9m + 4m – 12 = (3m2 -9m) + (4m -12)

= 3m(m – 3) + 4(m -3) = (3m + 4)(m – 3)

NOTE: You can use General Trinomial factoring Technique to Factor Perfect Square
Trinomials, in case that you forgot how to factor it.

UNIT 2: RATIONAL ALGEBRAIC EXPRESSIONS

Rational Expressions and its domain

1. Restricted Value – values of the variable that makes the denominator of a rational algebraic
expression equal to ZERO.

2. Domain - the set of all allowable values of a variable in the denominator.

Example 1: Find the domain of .

Step 1: Take the denominator: x – 2

Step 2: See if the denominator can be factored or NOT. If it can, then FACTOR.
Step 2: Find the restricted value using Solving Linear Equations and putting 0 after the = sign:
x–2=0x=2
Step 3: Thus, the Restricted Value is x = 2
Step 4: This is the algorithm or rule in writing the domain: {variable | variable  restricted value}
Answer: The Domain is {x | x  2}.

Example 2: Find the domain of .

Solution: x + 3 = 0  x = -3
The Restricted Value is x = -3

Therefore, the Domain is {x | x  -3}.

Example 3: Find the domain of .

Solution: 3x + 2 = 0  3x = -2  3x/3 = -2/3  x = -2/3
The Restricted Value is x = -2/3

Therefore, the Domain is {x | x  -2/3}.

Example 4: Find the domain of

Factor the Denominator: x2 – 16 = (x – 4)(x + 4)

Solution: x – 4 = 0  x = 4 ; and x + 4 = 0  x = -4
The Restricted Values are x = 4, -4

Therefore, the Domain is {x | x  4, -4}.

Example 5: Find the domain of

Factor the Denominator: x2 – x – 12 = (x – 4)(x + 3)

Solution: x – 4 = 0  x = 4; and x + 3 = 0  x = -3
 MATHEMATICS 8 MASTERY TEST REVIEWER prepared by: Mr. Diao

The Restricted Values are x = 4, -3

Therefore, the Domain is {x | x  4, -3}.

Simplifying Rational Expressions

1. Completely Factored Expression – an expression if all of its factors are prime, that is, the
factors can no longer be broken down into simpler factors.

2. Simplest Form - a rational algebraic expression is in simplest form if the numerator and
denominator have no common factors other than 1.

Example 1: Simplify the expression .

= = =x+5

Example 2: Simplify the expression .

= = =

Example 3: Simplify the expression .

Example 4: Simplify the expression .

= = =

Adding and Subtracting Rational Expressions

1. Similar Fractions - Simply add or subtract the numerators of the two rational algebraic
expressions and copy the denominator.

Important Note: Factor all expressions at the LAST solution if some are factorable. If
there are common quantities in the numerator and denominator, do CANCELLATION to
simplify the entire rational algebraic expression. This gives you the final answer.

2. Dissimilar Fractions

Step 1: Simplify all fractions or rational expressions if it can be, to make factoring easy.
Step 2: Factor all expressions in the FIRST solution if some are factorable.
Step 3: Find the Least Common Denominator (LCD) by two ways:
 Denominators are NOT the same  Multiply the Two Denominators
 Denominators are ALMOST the same  Make it the same by putting the missing
quantity beside the lacking denominator.
Step 4: Take note that what you put or multiply on the denominator, you will also put or
multiply on the numerator.
Step 5: Now, both rational expressions are now Similar Fractions. Simply add or subtract the
numerators of the two rational algebraic expressions and copy the denominator.
Step 6: There are “some” that can still be factored at the LAST solution, please remember!
 MATHEMATICS 8 MASTERY TEST REVIEWER prepared by: Mr. Diao

Similar Fractions
Example 1: Find the sum of and LCD = x + 2

+ = = = = 4x

Example 2: - LCD = 3x -1

- = = = =

Dissimilar Fractions

Example 1: LCD = x(x -2)

= = = or

Example 2: . LCD = (x-8)(x+8)

= = =

= = or

Example 3: LCD = (t-4)(t-4)

= = = =

= or

Example 4: - LCD = 10x8y7

( )
- - = = or

Example 5: + LCD = 10e3f4g3

( )
+ = + = + = =

= or

Example 6: - LCD = 2(x-1)(x+1)

- = - = - = =

= = = or

Example 7: - LCD =
- = - = -
( )
= = =
 MATHEMATICS 8 MASTERY TEST REVIEWER prepared by: Mr. Diao

= = = =

= = = or

Please Read: As you can see in Example 7, the given are dissimilar fractions. We factored it at
FIRST as what we know. However, look at the last solution: it can still be FACTORED. Why? It
is because it is still factorable and does not go back to the “original given” when we cancel. In
summary, in SIMILAR FRACTIONS, we factor at the LAST solution only, however in
DISSIMILAR FRACTIONS, we factor primarily at the FIRST solution only but there are also
some cases that the LAST solution can also be factored for cancellation (please take note of this).

Multiplying and Dividing Rational Expressions

 Multiplying Rational Algebraic Expressions

- Multiply the numerators and the denominators of the two rational algebraic expressions

 Dividing Rational Algebraic Expressions

- Get the reciprocal of the divisor and then proceed to multiply the two rational algebraic
expressions OR simply, change division operation to multiplication then find the
reciprocal of the second fraction.

Important Note: Before you multiply or divide rational expressions, please remember to
SIMPLIFY or FACTOR first!

Example 1: Find the product of and

 =  = = = or

= =

Example 3: .

= =  =

= = or

Example 4:

= =  =

= = or

Example 5: Find the quotient of

= =

=  = =

Let’s review it all to pass the Mastery Test in Mathematics! All you have to do is to STUDY, UNDERSTAND,
PRACTICE SOLVING, AND PRAY.
GOODLUCK, AIM HIGH!