Chapter R

REVIEW OF BASIC CONCEPTS

Section R.6
Factoring Polynomials
R.6 Factoring Polynomials

• Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor

• Factoring by Grouping
• Factoring Trinomials
• Factoring Binomials
• Factoring by Substitution
• Factoring Expressions with Negative or Rational Exponents
R.6 Factoring Polynomials
Objectives

After completing this section and the assigned exercises you

should be able to:
❑ Factor out the greatest common factor of a polynomial.
❑ Factor a polynomial by grouping.
❑ Factor a polynomial using special factoring formulas.
❑ Factor a trinomial of second degree.
R.6 Factoring Polynomials
What is Factoring ?
To factor a whole number is to write it as a product of other whole
numbers which are called its factors or divisors.

For example: 6 = 2 × 3, 48 = 4 ⋅ 12 .

To factor a polynomial is to write it as a product of other polynomials

which are called its factors or divisors.

For example: 3𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 3 𝑥 + 2𝑦 , 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 = 𝑥(𝑥 2 + 1).

R.6 Factoring Polynomials
What is Factoring ?
For example: 3𝑥 + 6𝑦 = 3 𝑥 + 2𝑦 ,

both 3 and 𝑥 + 2𝑦 are factors of 3𝑥 + 6𝑦, and 3 𝑥 + 2𝑦 is a factored

form of 3𝑥 + 6𝑦.

𝑥3 + 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑥2 + 1 ,

both 𝑥 and 𝑥 2 + 1 are factors of 𝑥 3 +𝑥, and 𝑥 𝑥 2 + 1 is a factored form

of 𝑥 3 + 𝑥.
R.6 Factoring Polynomials
Why Factoring ?

Factoring, is important in a variety of applications. In

particular, factoring is often used to simplify fractions
and solve equations.
 Prime Number vs Composite Number
A prime number is a whole number greater than 1 with only two
factors, itself and 1.
The first few prime numbers are: 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, ….

A composite number is a whole number greater than 1 that is not prime.

The first few composite numbers are: 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, …

The number 1 is neither prime nor composite.

Prime Factorization of a Whole Number
A composite number is factored completely if it is represented
as a product of his prime factors, such representation is called
the prime factorization of the number.

For example:
▪ 120 = 23 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 5
▪ 48 = 24 ⋅ 3
▪ 72 = 23 ⋅ 32
 The Greatest Common Factor
The greatest common factor (GCF) of a list of whole numbers
is the largest common factor of these numbers.
For example, we can find the GCF of 12, 16 and 36 as follows:

▪ Factors of 12: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12.

▪ Factors of 16: 1, 2, 4, 8, 16.
▪ Factors of 36: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 18, 36.

The Common factors are: 1, 2, 4.

So, 𝐺𝐶𝐹(12,16, 36) = 4, Read this as
“the greatest common factor of 𝟏𝟐, 𝟏𝟔 and 36 is 𝟒”.
 Using Prime Factorization To find the GCF
Example 1: Use prime factorization to find the GCF of 60, 48 and 72.
Solution
1. Write the prime factorization of each number in exponential notation.
60 = 22 ⋅ 31 ⋅ 5, 48 = 24 ⋅ 31 , 72 = 23 ⋅ 32
2. Choose each common prime factor with the smallest exponent.
60 = 22 ⋅ 31 ⋅ 5, 48 = 24 ⋅ 31 , 72 = 23 ⋅ 32
3. The GCF is the product of these factors with these exponents:
GCF 60,48,72 = 22 ⋅ 31
GCF 60,48,72 = 12
(read this as “the greatest common factor of 60, 48 and 72 is 12”).
 Finding the GCF of a List of Monomials
Example 2: Find the greatest common factor of 42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 and 63𝑥𝑦 2 .
Solution
1. Write the prime factorizations.
42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 = 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 𝑥 2 ⋅ 𝑦 3 ⋅ 𝑧, 63𝑥𝑦 2 = 32 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑦 2
2. Choose each common prime factor with the smallest exponent.

42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 = 2 ⋅ 3 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 𝑥 2 ⋅ 𝑦 3 ⋅ 𝑧, 63𝑥𝑦 2 = 32 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑦 2

3. The GCF is the product of these factors with these exponents:

GCF 42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧, 63𝑥𝑦 2 = 3 ⋅ 7 ⋅ 𝑥 ⋅ 𝑦 2 = 21𝑥𝑦 2
 Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor
Example 3: Factor out the greatest common factor.
2 3 2 b) 2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 8𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥𝑦 3
a) 42𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 +63𝑥𝑦
Solution a): Find the greatest common factor of the terms.
GCF 42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧, 63𝑥𝑦 3 = 21𝑥 ⋅ 𝑦 2
Factor out the greatest common factor: 21𝑥𝑦 2 .
42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 + 63𝑥𝑦 2 = 21𝑥𝑦 2 (______ + _______)
Find the term whose product with 21𝑥𝑦 2 is 42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 and then the
term whose product with 21𝑥𝑦 2 is 63𝑥𝑦 2 .

42𝑥 2 𝑦 3 𝑧 + 63𝑥𝑦 2 = 21𝑥𝑦 2 (2𝑥𝑦𝑧 + 3)

 Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor
Example 3: Factor out the greatest common factor.
2 3 2 b) 2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 8𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥𝑦 3
a) 42𝑥 𝑦 𝑧 +63𝑥𝑦
Solution b):
Here the GCF is obvious, so we don’t need prime factorization.
GCF 2𝑥 3 𝑦, 8𝑥 2 𝑦 2 , 6𝑥𝑦 3 = 2𝑥𝑦
Write each term as a product of the GCF and another term.
2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 8𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥𝑦 3 = 2𝑥𝑦 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 4𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑥𝑦 3𝑦 2
Factor out the greatest common factor: 2𝑥𝑦.
2𝑥 3 𝑦 − 8𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 6𝑥𝑦 3 = 2𝑥𝑦(𝑥 2 − 4𝑥𝑦 − 3𝑦 2 )
 Try & Check
Factor each of the following polynomials, factor out the greatest
common factor.
2 2 3 3 b) 14𝑥 4 − 7𝑥 2 + 21𝑥
a) 4𝑥 𝑦 − 8𝑥𝑦 + 16𝑥 𝑦
 Factoring by Grouping
Example 4: Factor the following polynomials by grouping.
3 2
2
a) 3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 b)𝑥 − 𝑥 +𝑥−1
Solution a): Group terms with common factors.
3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥
Factor each group by factoring out the GCF.
3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 𝑦 3𝑥 − 2 + 𝑥 3𝑥 − 2
Factor out the new common factor: 3𝑥 − 2.
3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 = 3𝑥 − 2 (𝑦 + 𝑥)
 Factoring by Grouping
Example 4: Factor the following polynomials by grouping.
3 2
2
a) 3𝑥𝑦 − 2𝑦 + 3𝑥 − 2𝑥 b) 𝑥 − 𝑥 +𝑥−1
Solution b): Group terms with common factors.
𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = (𝑥 3 −𝑥 2 ) + (𝑥 − 1)
In each group, factor out the GCF.
𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 1) + (𝑥 − 1)
Factor out the new common factor, 𝑥 −1.
𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 1 = (𝑥 − 1)(𝑥 2 +1)
 Try & Check
Factor each of the following polynomials, factor out the
greatest common factor.
a) 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎 + 𝑏 b) 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 2𝑥 + 2𝑦
 Factoring Trinomials
Factoring is the opposite of multiplication.
 Special Factoring Formulas

Difference of Squares 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 + 𝑦)

Perfect Squares 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 2

𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 − 𝑦 2
 Factoring Difference of Squares
Example 5: Factor each of the following polynomials.
a) 25𝑎2 − 64𝑏2 b) 16𝑚4 − 𝑛4
Solution a) Since 25𝑎2 = 5𝑎 2 and 64𝑏 2 = 8𝑏 2 we use the
factoring of the difference of two squares.
Write the formula. 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦)
Substitute 5𝑎 for 𝑥 and 8𝑏 for y.
2 2
5𝑎 − 8𝑏 = (5𝑎 + 8𝑏)(5𝑎 − 8𝑏)

That is: 25𝑎2 − 64𝑏 2 = (5𝑎 + 8𝑏)(5𝑎 − 8𝑏)

 Factoring Difference of Squares.
Example 5: Factor each of the following polynomials.
a) 25𝑎2 − 64𝑏2 b) 16𝑚4 − 𝑛4
Solution b) Since 16𝑚4 = 4𝑚2 2 and 𝑛4 = 𝑛2 2 , we use the factoring
formula of the difference of two squares.
Write the formula. 𝑥 2 − 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 − 𝑦)
Substitute 4𝑚2 for 𝑥 and 𝑛2 for y.

4𝑚2 2 − 𝑛2 2 = (4𝑚2 + 𝑛2 )(4𝑚2 − 𝑛2 )

Factor also 4𝑚2 − 𝑛2 .
16𝑚4 − 𝑛4 = (4𝑚2 + 𝑛2 )(2𝑚 − 𝑛)(2𝑚 + 𝑛)
 Try & Check
Factor each of the following polynomials over integers.
a) 169𝑢2 − 36𝑣 2 b)121𝑚8 − 16𝑛4
 Factoring Perfect Squares
Example 6: Factor each of the following polynomials.
a) 𝑎2 + 16𝑎𝑏 + 64𝑏2 b) 36𝑢10 − 60𝑢5 + 25
Solution a)
Remark that 64𝑏 2 = 8𝑏 2 . So the first term and the third term are
squares. we try to use the factoring formula of a perfect square.
Write the formula.
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 + 𝑦 2
Substitute 𝑎 for 𝑥 and 8𝑏 for y.
𝑎2 + 2𝑎 8𝑏 + 8𝑏 2 = 𝑎 + 8𝑏 2
That is:
𝑎2 + 16𝑎𝑏 + 64𝑏 2 = 𝑎 + 8𝑏 2
 Factoring Perfect Squares
Example 6: Factor each of the following polynomials.
a) 𝑎2 + 16𝑎𝑏 + 64𝑏2 b) 36𝑢10 − 60𝑢5 + 25
Solution b) Since 36𝑢10 = 6𝑢5 2 and 25 = 52 , we try to use the
factoring formula of a perfect square.

Write the formula.

𝑥 2 − 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 − 𝑦 2

Substitute 6𝑢5 for 𝑥 and 5 for y.

(6𝑢5 )2 −2(6𝑢5 ) 5 + 5 2 = 6𝑢5 − 5 2
 Try & Check
Factor each of the following polynomials.
a) 25𝑢2 + 60𝑢𝑣 + 36𝑣 2 b)121𝑚8 − 88𝑚4 𝑛2 + 16𝑛4
 The Product-Sum Method

In factoring a quadratic polynomial 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 we

can use the following identity:
𝑥 + 𝑟 𝑥 + 𝑠 = 𝑥 2 + 𝑟 + 𝑠 𝑥 + 𝑟𝑠.
We try to find 𝑟 and 𝑠 so that 𝑟 + 𝑠 = 𝑏 and 𝑟𝑠 = 𝑐
if possible.
 The Product-Sum Method
Example 7: Factor each polynomial.
a) 𝑥2 + 3𝑥 + 2 b) 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6

Solution a) Factor pairs of 𝟐 Sum of factor pair

(−2)(−1) −3
(1)(2) 3 ✓
Factored form: 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 = 𝑥 + 1 𝑥 + 2 .

Check: 𝑥+1 𝑥+2 = 𝑥2 + 1 + 2 𝑥 + 1 2

= 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 ✓
 The Product-Sum Method
Example 7: Factor each polynomial.
a) 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 2 b) 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6

Solution b) Factor pairs of −𝟔 Sum of factor pair

(−6)(1) −5
6 (-1) 5
(−3)(2) −1
(−2)(3) 1 ✓
Factored form: 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6 = 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 + 3 .
Check: 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 + 3 = 𝑥 2 + −2 + 3 𝑥 − 2 3
= 𝑥2 + 𝑥 − 6 ✓
 Factoring Binomials

Difference of Cubes 𝑥 3 − 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )

Sum of Cubes 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )

 The Product-Sum Method
Example 8: Factor each polynomial.
a) 𝑥3 + 27 b) 𝑚3 − 64𝑛3 c)8 𝑞6 + 125𝑝9

Solution
 Try & Check
Factor each of the following polynomials.
a) (2𝑎 − 1)2 +5(2𝑎 − 1) + 6 b) 𝑥 4 + 2𝑥 2 − 15
c) 𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 + 12 d) 𝑥 2 − 3𝑥 − 10
Worksheet