Copyright 2013, 2009, 2005, 2002 Pearson, Education, Inc.

5.8

Solving Equations
by Factoring and
Problem Solving
 Polynomial Equations
Polynomial Equations
Equations that set 2 polynomials equal to each
other.
Standard form has a 0 on one side of the
equation.

Quadratic Equations
Polynomial equations of degree 2.
 Zero-Factor Property

Zero-Factor Property
If a and b are real numbers and if ab = 0, then
a = 0 or b = 0. This property is true for three or
more factors also.
 Example

Solve: (x 4)(x + 2) = 0

x 4 = 0 or x+2=0
x = 4 or x = 2

You can check the solutions on your own.

 Example
Solve: x2 5x = 24
First write the quadratic equation in standard
form.
x2 5x 24 = 0
Now factor.
x2 5x 24 = (x 8)(x + 3) = 0
Set each factor equal to 0.
x 8 = 0 or x + 3 = 0, which will simplify to
x = 8 or x = 3
Continued
 Example (cont)

Check both possible answers in the original

equation.
?
8 5(8) = 64 40 = 24
2 True
?
(3) 5(3) = 9 (15) = 24
2 True
So the solutions are 8 or 3.
 Solving Polynomial Equations
Solving Polynomial Equations by Factoring
1) Write the equation in standard form so that one
side of the equation is 0.
2) Factor the polynomial completely.
3) Set each factor containing a variable equal to 0.
4) Solve the resulting equations.
5) Check each solution in the original equation.
 Example
Solve: 4x(8x + 9) = 5
4x(8x + 9) = 5
32x2 + 36x = 5
32x2 + 36x 5 = 0
(8x 1)(4x + 5) = 0
8x 1 = 0 or 4x + 5 = 0
8x = 1 4x = 5
1 5
x x
4
8
1
5
.
The solutions are and
8 4 Continued
 Example (cont)
Check both possible answers in the original
equation.

1 1 1 1
4 8 9 4 1 9 4 (10) (10) 5 True
1 ?
8 8 8 8 2

5 5 5 5
4 8 9 4 10 9 4 (1) (5)(1) 5 True
?
4 4 4 4

5
The solutions are 1 and .
8 4
 Example

Solve: 3x 3 12 x 0
3x( x 2 4) 0
3x( x 2)( x 2) 0
3x 0 x20 x2 0
x0 x 2 x2

Replace x with each solution in the original

equation. The solutions all check.
Strategy for Problem Solving
General Strategy for Problem Solving
1) Understand the problem
Read and reread the problem
Choose a variable to represent the unknown
Construct a drawing, whenever possible
Propose a solution and check
2) Translate the problem into an equation
3) Solve the equation
4) Interpret the result
Check proposed solution in problem
State your conclusion
 Example
The product of two consecutive positive integers is 132. Find
the two integers.

1. UNDERSTAND

Read and reread the problem. If we let

x = one of the unknown positive integers, then
x + 1 = the next consecutive positive integer.

Continued
 Example (cont)

2. TRANSLATE

The product of

two consecutive positive integers is 132

x (x + 1) = 132

Continued
 Example (cont)

3. SOLVE
x(x + 1) = 132
x2 + x = 132 Apply the distributive property.
x2 + x 132 = 0 Write in standard form.

(x + 12)(x 11) = 0 Factor.

x + 12 = 0 or x 11 = 0 Set each factor equal to 0.

x = 12 or x = 11 Solve.
Continued
 Example (cont)

4. INTERPRET
Check: Remember that x is suppose to represent a
positive integer. So, although x = -12 satisfies our
equation, it cannot be a solution for the problem we were
presented.
If we let x = 11, then x + 1 = 12. The product of the two
numbers is 11 12 = 132, our desired result.

State: The two positive integers are 11 and 12.

 The Pythagorean Theorem

Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle, the sum of the squares of the
lengths of the two legs is equal to the square
of the length of the hypotenuse.
(leg a)2 + (leg b)2 = (hypotenuse)2

hypotenuse
leg a

leg b
 Example

Find the length of the shorter leg of a right triangle if the

longer leg is 10 miles more than the shorter leg and the
hypotenuse is 10 miles less than twice the shorter leg.

1.) Understand
Read and reread the problem. If we let 2 x - 10
x = the length of the shorter leg, then x
x + 10 = the length of the longer leg and
x + 10
2x 10 = the length of the hypotenuse.

Continued
 Example (cont)

2.) Translate
By the Pythagorean Theorem,
(leg a)2 + (leg b)2 = (hypotenuse)2
x2 + (x + 10)2 = (2x 10)2
3.) Solve
x2 + (x + 10)2 = (2x 10)2
x2 + x2 + 20x + 100 = 4x2 40x + 100 Multiply the binomials.
2x2 + 20x + 100 = 4x2 40x + 100 Simplify the left side.
0 = 2x2 60x Subtract 2x2 + 20x + 100 from both sides.
0 = 2x(x 30) Factor the right side.
x = 0 or x = 30 Set each factor = 0 and solve,

Continued
 Example (cont)

4.) Interpret
Check: Remember that x is suppose to represent
the length of the shorter side. So, although x = 0
satisfies our equation, it cannot be a solution for
the problem we were presented.
If we let x = 30, then x + 10 = 40 and 2x 10 = 50.
Since 302 + 402 = 900 + 1600 = 2500 = 502, the
Pythagorean Theorem checks out.
State: The length of the shorter leg is 30 miles.
(Remember that is all we were asked for in this
problem.)