Factoring

Polynomials
Grade 8 – Wisdom and Fortitude
 Lesson 4:
Perfect Square
Trinomial
At the end of the discussion, the students must be able to:
1. determine patterns in factoring polynomials;
2. factor perfect square trinomials; and
3. determine if the given trinomial is perfect square trinomial.
01 Square the first term.

Twice the product of the first

02 and last term.

03 Square last term.

(𝑥 + 2)2 = 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4
Factoring Perfect Square Trinomial
A perfect square trinomial has first and last terms which are perfect
squares and middle term is twice the product of the square root of
first and last terms.

That is:
𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2
𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)2

Note:
Perfect Square Trinomial comes in two forms: one in which the
middle term is positive and the other in which the middle term is
negative.
Factoring Perfect Square Trinomial
Examples:

𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 4 = (𝑥 + 2)2
𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 9 = (𝑥 +3)2
4𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 + 9 = (2𝑥 + 3)2
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)2
 The following will help you recognize a perfect square trinomial:

01 The first and the last terms must be perfect squares and there must
be no minus sign before the first and the last term.

02 Look at the middle term and check if it is twice the product of the
square root of the first and last term.

03 If the conditions were satisfied, the expression is perfect square

trinomial.

04 Factor completely the given trinomial following the pattern:

𝑎 2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)2 𝑜𝑟 (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏)
𝑎 2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)2 𝑜𝑟 (𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏)
Examples:

4𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 + 25
• The first term 4𝑥 2 is the square of 2𝑥: (2𝑥)2 = 4𝑥 2
• The last term 25 is the square of 5: (5)2 = 25
• There is no minus sign before 4𝑥 2 and 25
• The middle term 20𝑥 is twice the product of 2𝑥 and 5.
• Thus, 4𝑥 2 + 20𝑥 + 25 = (2𝑥 + 5)2

9𝑥 2 − 30𝑥𝑦 + 25𝑦 2
• The first term 9𝑥 2 is the square of 3𝑥: (3𝑥)2 = 9𝑥 2
• The last term 25𝑦 2 is the square of 5𝑦: (5𝑦)2 = 25𝑦 2
• There is no minus sign before 9𝑥 2 and 25𝑦 2
• The middle term −30𝑥 is twice the product of 3𝑥 and 5𝑦.
• Thus, 9𝑥 2 − 30𝑥𝑦 + 25𝑦 2 = (3𝑥 − 5𝑦)2
Which of the following are perfect square trinomials?

a. x 2 + 8x + 16 Perfect Square
Trinomial

b. 4x 2 − 20xy + 25y 2
Perfect Square
Trinomial

c. x 2 + 5x + 6 No, there is only one

term that is a perfect
square, 𝑥 2

d. n2 + 16n + 64
Perfect Square
Trinomial
 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomial
Factor each completely.

1. x 2 + 10x + 25
• The first term is a perfect square, 𝑥
• The last term is a perfect square, 5
• The middle term is twice the product of the first
and the second term, 2(𝑥)(5)
• The factor of x 2 + 10x + 25 is (𝑥 + 5)2

2. 4x 2 + 4x + 1
• The first term is a perfect square, 2𝑥
• The last term is a perfect square, 1
• The middle term is twice the product of the first
and the second term, 2(2𝑥)(1)
• The factor of 4x 2 + 4x + 1 is (2𝑥 + 1)2
Factoring Perfect Square Trinomial
Factor each completely.

3. 16x 2 + 72x + 81
• The first term is a perfect square, 4𝑥
• The last term is a perfect square, 9
• The middle term is twice the product of the first
and the second term, 2(4𝑥)(9)
• The factor of 16x 2 + 72x + 81 is (4𝑥 + 9)2

4. 25m2 + 20mn + 4𝑛2

• The first term is a perfect square, 5𝑚
• The last term is a perfect square, 2𝑛
• The middle term is twice the product of the first
and the second term, 2(5𝑚)(2𝑛)
• The factor of 25m2 + 20mn + 4𝑛2 is (5𝑚 + 2𝑛)2
Factor each completely.

1. x 2 − 24x + 144
• The first term is a perfect square, 𝑥
• The last term is a perfect square, 12
• The middle term is twice the product of the first
and the second term, −2(𝑥)(12)
• The factor of x 2 − 24x + 144 is (𝑥 − 12)2

2. 1 − 18m + 81m2

• The first term is a perfect square, 1

• The last term is a perfect square, 9𝑚
• The middle term is twice the product of the first
and the second term, −2(1)(9𝑚)
• The factor of 1 − 18m + 81𝑚2 is (1 − 9𝑚)2