Factoring Polynomials

Lesson 1b
Factoring the Difference of Two
Squares
Give the equal factors of the following numbers /
terms:
4 (2)(2) x4
(x2)(x2)
81 (9)(9) y6
(y )(y )
3 3

64 (8)(8) ab 2 8 (ab )(ab )

4 4

9 (3)(3) 25k 12
(5k )(5k )
6 6

121 (11)(11) 49m n

4 2
(7m n)(7m n)
2 2
Sum and Difference of Same Difference of Two Sum and Difference of Same
Two Terms Squares Two Terms

(x+3)(x-3) = x –9
2
= (x+3)(x-3)
finding the product factoring the product
Examples
1. x – 49
2
2. a – b
2 2
3. 3x – 27
2
4. 16x – 4
2
5. x – 16
4
6. 25x – 16y
2 2
7. x – 16
8
To factor the Difference of Two Squares:
1. Get the greatest common factor first if there is any

2. To get the first terms of the two binomial factors, factor the first term
of the given polynomial in such a way that the two factors are equal.

3. To get the last terms of the two binomial factors, factor the last term
of the given polynomial in such a way that the two factors are equal.

4. Affix plus and minus sign in between the terms of each factor.
Factor the following difference
of two squares using the
pattern you have learned.
 16x – 81
2

(4x + 9)(4x – 9)
 8x – 98
2

2(2x + 7)(2x – 7)
 9x – 25y
2 2

(3x + 5y)(3x – 5y)

 x –4
4

(x + 2)(x – 2)
2 2
 x – 144
12

(x + 12)(x – 12)
6 6
5x – 20x
3

5x (x + 2)(x – 2)
 9x – 16y
6 8

(3x + 4y )(3x – 4y )
3 4 3 4
 169a – 196b
2 2

(13a + 14b)(13a – 14b)

 225a – b 6 4

(15a + b )(15a – b )
3 2 3 2
361m – 289n
4 4

(19m + 17n )(19m – 17n )

2 2 2 2
 81c – 4d
8 12

(9c + 2d )(9c – 2d )
4 6 4 6
 18a b – 50ab
3 5

2ab(3a + 5b )(3a – 5b )
2 2
 324a – 121b
8 10

(18a + 11b )(18a – 11b )

4 5 4 5
Factor each difference of two squares.
1. 16k – 9
2

2. 24y – 54
2

3. a – 9b
16 4

4. 100x – 9a
6 2

5. x – y
6 6
Answers.
1. (4k + 3)(4k – 3)
2. 6(2y + 3)(2y – 3)
3. (a + 3b ) (a – 3b )
8 2 8 2

4. (10x + 3a) (10x – 3a)

3 3

5. (x + y )(x – y )
3 3 3 3
Factor each difference of two squares.
1. x – x
5

2. x – 64
6

3. 40x – 10x 3

4. 54x – 96
4

5. x – 81
4