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Factoring Cubic Polynomials

Goal p Factor cubic polynomials and solve cubic equations.

VOCABULARY Factor by grouping To factor common monomials from pairs of terms in a polynomial, and then look for a common binomial factor SPECIAL PRODUCT PATTERNS Sum of Two Cubes a3 1 b3 5 (a 1 b)(a2 2 ab 1 b) Difference of Two Cubes a3 2 b3 5 (a 2 b)(a2 1 ab 1 b) Example x3 1 27 5 (x 1 3)( x2 2 3x 1 9 ) Example 64x3 2 1 5 (4x 2 1)( 16x2 1 4x 1 1 )

Example 1

Factor the Sum or Difference of Two Cubes

b. Factor 343x3 2 216.

a. Factor x3 1 125.

Solution a. x3 1 125 5 x3 1 5 3 5 (x 1 5 )( x2 2 5x 1 52 ) 5 (x 1 5 )( x2 2 5x 1 25 ) b. 343x3 2 216 5 ( 7 x)3 2 ( 6 )3 5 ( 7x 2 6 )[( 7x )2 1 7x ( 6 ) 1 6 2] 5 ( 7x 2 6 )( 49x2 1 42x 1 36 )

Checkpoint Factor the polynomial.

1. x3 1 512 (x 1 8)(x2 2 8x 1 64)

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2. x3 2 h3 (x 2 h)(x2 1 xh 1 h2)
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Example 2

Factor Polynomials
b. Factor 8x3 1 64.

a. Factor x3 1 2x2 2 8x. Solution a. x3 1 2x2 2 8x 5 x( x2 1 2x 2 8 ) 5 x( x 1 4 )( x 2 2 ) b. 8x3 1 64 5 8( x3 1 8 )

Factor common monomial. Factor trinomial. Factor common monomial. Use special product pattern.

5 8( x 1 2 )( x2 2 2x 1 4 )

Checkpoint Factor the polynomial.

3. 2x3 1 6x2 2 36x 2x(x 1 6)(x 2 3)

4. 9x4 1 72x 9x(x 1 2)(x2 2 2x 1 4)

Example 3

Factor by Grouping

Factor the polynomial x3 2 3x2 2 36x 1 108. Solution x3 2 3x2 2 36x 1 108 5 ( x3 2 3x2 ) 1 ( 236x 1 108 ) Group terms. 5 x2( x 2 3 ) 1 (236)( x 2 3 ) 5 (x2 2 36)( x 2 3 ) 5 ( x 1 6 )( x 2 6 )( x 2 3 ) Factor each group. Distributive property Difference of two squares

Checkpoint Factor the polynomial by grouping.

5. x2(x 2 10) 2 49(x 2 10) (x 2 7)(x 1 7)(x 2 10)

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6. x3 2 3x2 2 81x 1 243 (x 2 9)(x 1 9)(x 2 3)

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Example 4

Solve a Cubic Equation by Factoring

Solve 4x3 2 36x2 5 280x. Solution 4x3 2 36x2 5 280x 4x3 2 36x2 1 80x 5 0 4x ( x2 2 9x 1 20 ) 5 0 4x ( x 2 5 )( x 2 4 ) 5 0 4x 5 0 or x25 50 or x24 50 x5 0 ,x5 5 ,x5 4 The solutions are 0 , 5 , and 4 .
Example 5

Write original equation. Rewrite in standard form. Factor common monomial. Factor trinomial. Use zero product property. Solve for x.

Solve a Cubic Equation by Factoring

Solve x3 2 7x2 1 35 5 5x. Solution x3 2 7x2 1 35 5 5x x3 2 7x2 2 5x 1 35 5 0 ( x3 2 7x2 ) 1 ( 25x 1 35 ) 5 0 x2( x 2 7 ) 1 (25)( x 2 7 ) 5 0 ( x2 2 5 )( x 2 7 ) 5 0 x2 2 5 5 0 or Homework
} }

Write original equation. Rewrite in standard form. Group terms. Factor each group. Use distributive property. Use zero product property. Solve for x.

x27 50

x 5 5 , x 5 2 5 , x 5 7
} }

The solutions are 5 , 25 , and 7 .

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