Lecture P4

Chapter P
Prerequisites
Larson, Algebra & Trigonometry, 10th Edition. © 2018 Cengage. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned,
copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part
P.4 Factoring Polynomials
Polynomials with Common Factors
Polynomials with Common Factors
The process of writing a polynomial as a product is called factoring. It is an
important tool for solving equations and for simplifying rational expressions.
Unless noted otherwise, when you are asked to factor a polynomial, you can
assume that you are looking for factors that have integer coefficients. If a
polynomial does not factor using integer coefficients, then it is prime or
irreducible over the integers.
For instance, the polynomial x 2  3 is irreducible over the integers.
Polynomials with Common Factors (2 of 3)
Over the real numbers, this polynomial factors as


x2  3  x  3 x  3 .  
A polynomial is completely factored when each of its factors is prime. For
instance

x 3  x 2  4 x  4   x  1 x 2  4  Completely factored
is completely factored, but

x 3  x 2  4 x  4   x  1 x 2  4  Not completely factored
is not completely factored. Its complete factorization is
x 3  x 2  4 x  4   x  1 x  2  x  2 .
Polynomials with Common Factors (3 of 3)
The simplest type of factoring involves a polynomial that can be written as the
product of a monomial and another polynomial.
The technique used here is the Distributive Property, a(b + c) = ab + ac, in the
reverse direction.
ab  ac  a  b  c  a is a common factor.
Removing (factoring out) any common factors is the first step in completely
factoring a polynomial.
Factoring Special Polynomial Forms
Factoring Special Polynomial Forms (1 of 5)
Some polynomials have special forms that arise from the special product forms.
You should learn to recognize these forms.
Factoring Special Polynomial Forms
Factored Form
Trinomials with Binomial Factors (1 of 2)
To factor a trinomial of the form ax 2  bx  c, use the following pattern.
The goal is to find a combination of factors of a and c such that the outer and
inner products add up to the middle term bx.
Factoring by Grouping (1 of 2)
Sometimes, polynomials with more than three terms can be factoring by
grouping.

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Lecture P4

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Chapter P

Over the real numbers, this polynomial factors as

To factor a trinomial of the form ax 2  bx  c, use the following pattern.

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