WEEK 1: Factoring Polynomials

Learning Task 1. Recall your previous lesson about special products among
polynomials, multiply the factors in Column A then match the product to
Column B. Do it in your notebook.
Column A Column B
1. 3x (2x – 5) A. x2 + 4xy + 4y2
2. (x + 2y)2 B. 3x2 + 11xy + 6y2
3. (x – 3) (x + 2) C. 6x2 – 15x
4. (3x + 2y) (x + 3y) D. x2 – x – 6
5. (x – 4) (x + 4) E. x2 – 16
Answers:
1. C 3. D 5. E
2. A 4. B

Learning Task 2. Factor the following completely.

1. x2 + 3x – 18 3. 18x2 + 3x – 15 5. 3x3 + 24
2. 3x2 – 9x – 12 4. 5x2 + 32x + 12

Solution Answer
x2 + 3x – 18
1 +6
1. (x + 6) (x – 3)
1 -3
1(-3) + 1(6) = 3 or 3x

3x2 – 9x – 12
3 +3
2. 1 -4 3(x + 1) (x – 4)
3(-4) + 1(3) = -9 or -9x
(3x + 3) = 3(x + 1)
 18x2 + 3x – 15
6 -5
3. 3 +3 3(x + 1) (6x – 5)
6(3) + 3(-5) = 3 or 3x
(3x + 3) = 3(x + 1)
5x2 + 32x + 12
5 +2
4. 1 +6 (5x + 2) (x + 6)
5(6) + 1(2) = 32 or 32x

3x3 + 24
3(x3 + 8)
5. 3 [(x + 2) (x2 – 2x + 4)]
3(x3 + 23)
n [(a + b) (a2 – ab + b2)]

Learning Task 3. Set up an equation and solve each problem.

1. The square of a number equals nine times that number. Find the number.
2. Suppose that four times the square of a number equals 20 times that
number. What is the number?
3. Twice the square of the sum of a number and 3 is 98. Find the number.

Solution Answer
x2 = 9x
1
x2 – 9x = 0 x = 0 or x = 9
.
x (x – 9) = 0

4x2 = 20x
2
4x2 – 20x = 0 x = 0 or x = 5
.
4x (x – 5) = 0
 2 (x + 3)2 = 98
2 (x2 + 6x + 9) = 98
2x2 + 12x + 18 = 98
2x2 + 12x – 80 = 0
2 20
3
1 -4 x = -10 or x = 4
.
(2x + 20) (x – 4) = 0
2x + 20 = 0
2x = -20
2 2
x–4=0