Factoring Polynomials

To factor a polynomial means to write the polynomial as a product of other polynomials.

A. Greatest Common Factor Examples:

1. 4x
3
y
2
+ 12 x
3
y + 20 xy
2


2. -12x
4
+ 16x
3
+ 8x
2


3. x
2n
+ x
n+1
+ x
n
, n >0

B. Factor by Grouping

The Distributive Property is used to factor a common binomial factor from an expression.
Examples:

4. 4a(2b + 3) - 5(2b + 3)

5. 6r(r - s) - 7(s - r)

Some polynomials can be factored by grouping terms so that a common binomial factor is found.
6. 8y
2
+ 4y 6ay 3a

7. 3x(y - 4) - 2(4 - y)

8. xy 4x 2y + 8

C. Factor trinomials of the form x
2
+ bx + c

9. x
2
- 5x - 24


10. x
2
+ 8x + 12


11. x
2
+ 5x - 84



12. x
2
+ 7xy + 12y
2



Not all trinomials can be factored using only integers. Consider x
2
- 3x 6. This trinomial is not factorable.
Why? The polynomial x
2
- 3x 6 is a prime polynomial, and it is nonfactorable over the integers.







D. Factor trinomials of the form ax
2
+ bx + c


13. 2x
2
- 21x + 10


14. 3x
2
+ 11x + 8


15. 4z
2
17z 21


16. 3x
2
- 11x + 4


17. 3y
2
- y + 8


18. 10 - 17x - 6x
2



A polynomial is factored completely when it is written as a product of factors that are nonfactorable over the
integers.

19. 4x
3
+ 12x
2
160x



20. 12x
3
y

+ 14x
2
y 6xy



21. 30y + 2xy 4x
2
y



22.
2 6 3 2 2 4
14 72
a a a a
x x y y


4 2
4 15 9 c c



23.
2
30 64
a a
y y



24.
2 6 3 2 2 4
14 72
a a a a
x x y y










SPECIAL FACTORING
A. Difference of Two Squares.

1. 4x
2
9

2. 25r
2
36t
6


3. c
2
9d
4


4. 100y
8
- 49

B. Sum and Difference of Two Cubes
a
3
+ b
3
= (a + b)(a
2
ab + b
2
)
a
3
b
3
= (a b)(a
2
+ ab + b
2
)

1. x
3
8
2. 27x
3
+ 1
3. 125y
6
64
4. 27x
12
216
C. Perfect-Square Trinomial
a
2
+ 2ab + b
2
= (a + b)
2
a
2
2ab + b
2
= (a b)
2
1. 4x
2
- 12x + 9


2. x
2
+ 12x + 36


3. 4t
2
12t + 9


4. 25y
2
+ 70y + 49










SOLVING QUADRATIC EQUATIONS
Standard Form of the Quadratic Equation
2
0 ax bx c
Principle of Zero Product If the product of 2 factors equals 0 then at least one of the factors equals 0.
Double Root If a quadratic equation has 2 solutions that are the same then the solution is called a double root.

Solve by factoring:

1.
2
8 15 0 x x





2.
2
10 25 0 x x

3. 4x
2
9x = 0





4. 2x
2
- 21x = - 10




Solve using the square root method:

1.
2
64 x


2. 6x
2
= 25
3. ( x + 2 )
2
= 17

4. ( 2x 3 )
2
+ 4 = 0



Solve using the completing the square method:

1. x
2
+ 8x + 12 = 0


2. 2x
2
- 6x + 10 = 0
3. 3y
2
- 4y + 8 = 0


4. 2y
2
+ 15y 35 = 27 + 3y







Solve using the quadratic formula:

1. 0 24 10
2
x x 2. 0 2 5 3
2
x x














PROBLEM SOLVING.
1. One number is 5 greater than another number. If their product is 234, find the two numbers.







2. The length of a rectangular shaped lawn is 3 times as long as its width. If its area is 432 m
2
. Find the
length and width of the lawn.








3. The width of a rectangle is 15cm less than its length. The area of the rectangle is 286cm
2
. Find the
dimensions of the rectangle.