Magicians

They are all MASTERS of Magic!!

 It is my GOAL
for each of you to become
MASTERS of
FACTORING
 Factoring Expressions

-Greatest Common Factor

(GCF)
-Difference of 2 Squares
 Objectives
• I can factor expressions using
the Greatest Common Factor
Method (GCF)
• I can factor expressions using
the Difference of 2 Squares
Method
 What is Factoring?
• Quick Write: Write down everything you
know about Factoring from Algebra-1 and
Geometry?
• You can use Bullets or give examples

• 2 Minutes

• Share with partner!

 Factoring?
• Factoring is a method to find the basic
numbers and variables that made up a
product.
• (Factor) x (Factor) = Product
• Some numbers are Prime, meaning they are
only divisible by themselves and 1
 Method 1
• Greatest Common Factor (GCF) – the
greatest factor shared by two or more
numbers, monomials, or polynomials
• ALWAYS try this factoring method 1st
before any other method
• Divide Out the Biggest common
number/variable from each of the terms
 Greatest Common Factors
aka GCF’s
Find the GCF for each set of following numbers.
Find means tell what the terms have in common.
Hint: list the factors and find the greatest match.

a) 2, 6 2
b) -25, -40 -5
c) 6, 18 6
d) 16, 32 16
e) 3, 8 1
No common factors?
GCF =1
 Greatest Common Factors
aka GCF’s
Find the GCF for each set of following numbers.
Hint: list the factors and find the greatest match.

a) x, x2 x
b) x2, x3 x2
c) xy, x2y xy
d) 2x3, 8x2 2x2
e) 3x3, 6x2 3x2
f) 4x2, 5y3 1 No common factors?
GCF =1
 Greatest Common Factors
aka GCF’s
Factor out the GCF for each polynomial:
Factor out means you need the GCF times the
remaining parts.

a) 2x + 4y 2(x + 2y)
b) 5a – 5b 5(a – b) How can you check?
c) 18x – 6y 6(3x – y)

d) 2m + 6mn 2m(1 + 3n)

e) 5x2y – 10xy 5xy(x - 2)
 FACTORING by GCF
Take out the GCF EX:
15xy2 – 10x3y + 25xy3

How: Solution:
Find what is in common 5xy( 3y – 2x2 + 5y2 )
in each term and put in
front. See what is left
over.
Check answer by
distributing out.
 FACTORING
Take out the GCF EX:
2x4 – 8x3 + 4x2 – 6x

How: Solution:
Find what is in common 2x(x3 – 4x2 + 2x – 3)
in each term and put in
front. See what is left
over.
Check answer by
distributing out.
 Ex 1

• 15x2 – 5x
• GCF = 5x
• 5x(3x - 1)
 Ex 2

• 8x2 – x
• GCF = x
• x(8x - 1)
 Method #2

• Difference of Two
Squares
• a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a - b)
 What is a Perfect Square
• Any term you can take the square root
evenly (No decimal)
• 25 5
• 36 6
• 1 1
• x2 x
• y4 y 2
 Difference of
Perfect Squares

x –4
2
=
the answer will look like this: ( )( )

take the square root of each part:

( x 2)(x 2)
Make 1 a plus and 1 a minus:
(x + 2)(x - 2 )
 FACTORING
Difference of Perfect EX:
Squares x2 – 64

How: Solution:
Take the square root of (x – 8)(x + 8)
each part. One gets a +
and one gets a -.
Check answer by FOIL.
 YOUR TURN!!

Using White Boards

 Example 1

• (9x2 – 16)
• (3x + 4)(3x – 4)
 Example 2

• x2 – 16
• (x + 4)(x –4)
 Ex 3

• 36x2 – 25
• (6x + 5)(6x – 5)
 More than ONE Method
• It is very possible to use more than one
factoring method in a problem
• Remember:

• ALWAYS use GCF first

 Example 1

• 2b2x – 50x
• GCF = 2x
• 2x(b2 – 25)
• 2nd term is the diff of 2 squares
• 2x(b + 5)(b - 5)
 Example 2
• 32x3 – 2x
• GCF = 2x
• 2x(16x2 – 1)
• 2nd term is the diff of 2 squares
• 2x(4x + 1)(4x - 1)
 Exit Slip
• On a post it note write these 2
things: (with your name)
• 1. Define what factors are?
• 2. What did you learn today about
factoring?
• Put them on the bookshelf on the
way out!