Solving Equations with Factoring.

First things first: Relax. You’ve done this before. I promise.

Look at this equation: ( x−3 ) ( x+ 4 )=0 The only way to multiply two numbers and get ‘zero’ for an answer is if one of those two
numbers already is zero. (Stop. Think about that. Make sure it makes sense to you.) Ok, so that means that since we’re multiplying
(x-3) and (x+4) and getting zero then either :

x−3=0 or x +4=0

If the first one is true then “x” has to be 3. If the second one is true then “x’ has be -4.

So, you’re answer is “x = 3 or -4”

Make sense? Yes? Awesome! No? Oooh. That stinks. Go back and re-read it or turn to the person next to you and ask them to help
you make sense of it.

Ok, movin’ on!

Consider 4 x2 +23 x−6=0 . To solve this you should start by factoring it. When you do, you’ll get:

( x +6 ) ( 4 x−1 )=0 (I’m not going to type out all the steps of doing this, but you should be able to rewrite the original equation as
a four term polynomial and then factor it by grouping.)

So, at this point, given our rule about two numbers being multiplied to equal zero, we know that either :

x +6=0 or 4 x−1=0

When we solve these for “x” we get “x = -6 or x = ¼” (For the second equation we added “1” to both sides and then divided by “4”.

Last one: What if the equation doesn’t equal zero. For example: 4 x2 +3 x=10. Well, that’s not really a big deal; just MAKE it
equal zero by subtracting 10 from both sides of the equation. You end up with: 4 x2 +3 x−10=0. Boom! Now, you’re all set!
Factor it and using the Zero Product Property again to find the two possible answers for x.

Got it! Good. A few last notes:

 If you’ve been wondering, yes you could also use the quadratic formula for these, but factoring is easier if the expression is
factorable.
 You have a test next class, but this material is not on it. The test is on: Factoring Perfect Squares, Factoring Differences of
Two Squares and Factoring Sums and Differences of Two Cubes. You MUST memorize the formulas for the cubes. I will not
be giving them to you on the quiz. 
 Your homework is to complete BOTH sides of the very last piece of paper in the Factoring Packet. We’re creeping up on a
final test on factoring early next week so if you’re having trouble with this stuff, make sure you get a handle on it quickly!