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Introduction To Factoring Polynomials: MSJC San Jacinto Campus
Introduction To Factoring Polynomials: MSJC San Jacinto Campus
FACTORING
POLYNOMIALS
GCF(24,40) = 23 = 8
40
2 20
2 10
2 5 40 = 2*2*2*5 = 23*5
The Greatest Common Factor of terms of a
polynomial is the largest factor that the
original terms share
• Ex: What is the GCF(7x2, 3x)
7x2 = 7 * x * x
3x = 3 * x
The terms share a factor of x
GCF(7x2, 3x) = x
Ex: Find the GCF(6a5,3a3,2a2)
• 6a5 = 2*3*a*a*a*a*a The terms share two
• 3a3 = 3*a*a*a factors of a
• 2a2 = 2*a*a GCF(6a5,3a3,2a2)= a2
7x2 + 3x = x(7x + 3)
Ex: Factor 6a5 – 3a3 – 2a2
Recall: GCF(6a5,3a3,2a2)= a2
3 1
6a5 – 3a –
3 2a2 = a2( 6a3 - 3a - 2 )
a2 a2 a2
Recall: (-1)(a – 7) = - a + 7 = 7 – a
2 GCF(4a, 2) = 2
1
4a + 2 = 2( 2a + 1 )
2 2
Now put it all together . . .
6a3 + 3a2 +4a + 2 = 3a2(2a + 1) + 2(2a + 1)
3y GCF(-12y, - 16x) = -4
4x
-12y – 16x = - 4( 3y + 4x )
-4 -4
Now put it all together . . .
4x2 + 3xy – 12y – 16x = x(4x + 3y) – 4(4x + 3y)
a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b)
factors as
Ex: Factor 9p2 – 16
a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b)
factors as
Ex: Factor y6 – 25
a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b)
factors as
Ex: Factor 81 – x2y2
a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b)
factors as
Your Turn to Try a Few
To factor a polynomial completely, ask
• Do the terms have a common factor (GCF)?
• Does the polynomial have four terms?
• Is the polynomial a special one?
– Is the polynomial a difference of squares?
• a2 – b2
– Is the polynomial a sum/difference of cubes?
• a3 + b3 or a3 – b3
– Is the trinomial a perfect-square trinomial?
• a2 + 2ab + b2 or a2 – 2ab + b2
• Is the trinomial a product of two binomials?
• Factored completely?
FOIL Method of Factoring
• Recall FOIL
– (3x + 4)(4x + 5) = 12x2 + 15x + 16x + 20 = 12x2 + 31x + 20
• (2x – 7)(x + 1)
Factor Completely.
4x2 + 83x + 60
• Nothing common
• Factors of the first term: 1 & 4 or 2 & 2
• Factors of the last term: 1,6 2,30 3,20 4,15 5,12 6,10
• Since each pair of factors of the last has an even number,
we can not use 2 & 2 from the first term
• (4x + 3)(1x + 20 )
Sign Pattern for the Binomials
Trinomial Sign Pattern Binomial Sign Pattern
+ + ( + )( + )
- + ( - )( - )
- - 1 plus and 1 minus
+ - 1 plus and 1 minus
a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)
factors as
= (2p – q)(4p2 + 2pq + q2)
Ex: Factor x3 + 27y9
a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 - ab + b2)
factors as
= (x + 3y3)(x2 – 3xy3 + 9y6)