Factoring

Perfect Square Trinomials

 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
What is a perfect square?
If a number is squared the result is a perfect
square.
Example 22=4
4 is a perfect square.
Other examples:
32=9 or 42=16
9 is a perfect square.
16 is a perfect square.
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
Here is a list of the perfect squares for the numbers 1-
30.
12=1 112=121 212=441
22=4 122=144 222=484
32=9 132=169 232=529
42=16 142=196 242=576
52=25 152=225 252=625
62=36 162=256 262=676
72=49 172=289 272=729
82=64 182=324 282=784
92=81 192=361 292=841
102=100 202=400 302=900
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
When a variable is raised to an even power it is
a perfect square.

Example: (x)(x)= x2

x2 is a perfect square.

(x3)(x3)= x6 or (x5)(x5)= x10

x6 and x10 are both perfect squares.

 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
If a number or a variable is a perfect square the square
root of the quantity is the number or variable that
was squared to get the perfect square.
Example: Square 9.
9x9 = 81
81 is the perfect square.
9 is the square root of 81.
Example: Square x3
(x3) (x3) = x6 or (x3)2 = x6
x6 is the perfect square.
x3 is the square root of x6
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
• Now we are ready to understand the term-
perfect square trinomial.
• The trinomial that results from squaring a
binomial is a perfect square trinomial.
• Example: (x+7)2 = x2+14x+49
• x2+14x+49 is a perfect square trinomial.
• We know that a perfect square trinomial
always results when a binomial is squared.
• The reverse is also true.
• When we factor a perfect square trinomial
the result is always a squared binomial.
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
• Here are few examples:
• Factor: x2+10x+25
• Result: (x+5)2
• Check by multiplying
• x2+10x+25
• Factor: x2+2xy+y2
• (x+y) 2
• Check by multiplying.
• x2+2xy+y2
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
• Not all trinomials are perfect square trinomials.
• How do we recognize that a trinomial is a perfect square
trinomial.
• The first and last terms of the trinomial must be perfect squares
and must be positive.
• Example: x2+10x+25
• What about the middle term? +10x
• Take the square root of the first term x2 and get x.
• Take the square root of the last term +25 and get 5.
• Multiply (5)(x) and double the result. 10x. That is your middle
term.
• Two times the product of the square roots of the first and last
terms will give the middle term.
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
• Here are some examples of trinomials that are perfect square trinomials.
• 4x2 -20x +25
• 2x
• 5
• (2x- 5)2
• 9x2 - 48xy + 64y2
• 3x
• 8y
• (3x-8y)2
• 2x3 +20x2y+50xy2
• Factor out the GCF
• 2x(x2+10xy+25y2)
• 2x
• x
• 5y
• 2x(x+5y)2
 Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials
Here are some examples that are not perfect square trinomials.
x2+10x-25
The last term is not positive.
x2+2xy+2y2
The 2 in the last term is not a perfect square.
4x2-10xy+25y2
The square root of the first term is 2x.
The square root of the last term 5y.
2(2x)(5y)= 20xy
20xy = 10xy
4x2-16xy+8y2
There is a common factor of four.
4(x2- 4xy + 2y2)
The last term of the trinomial is not a perfect square because the 2 in the last term
is not perfect square.
To get more help go to the tutorial Practice- Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials