Factoring Polynomials

Recall.
1. A polynomial of degree greater than 0 is said to be irreducible relative to a set of numbers if:
1. all of its coefficients are from that set of numbers, and
2. it cannot be written as a product of polynomials of lower degree having coefficients from that set of
numbers.
2. A polynomial is said to be completely factored form when it is written as a product factors, each of which is
irreducible.
Note: We will only factor polynomials relative to the set of integers.

Techniques in Factoring Polynomials

Common Monomial Factor
ax ay = a(x y)
Example: 6x5 y 4 14x9 y 2 = 2x5 y 2 (3y 2 7x4 )
Difference of Two Squares
x2 y 2 = (x + y)(x y)
Example: 4a2 b2 = (2a + b)(2a b)
Perfect Square Trinomial
x2 2xy + y 2 = (x y)2
Example: 64a2 + 64ab + 16b2 = (8a + 4b)2
Sum and Difference of Two Cubes
x3 y 3 = (x y)(x2 xy + y 2 )
Example: z 3 + 125 = (z + 5)(z 2 5z + 25)
Trinomials: Case 1
x2 + (a + b)x + ab = (x + a)(x + b)
Example: x2 + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3)
Trinomials: Case 2
acx2 + (ad + bc)x + bd = (ax + b)(cx + d)
Example: 3x2 + 8x + 4 = (3x + 2)(x + 2)
Factoring by Grouping
Example: ax + bx ay by = (x y)(a + b)
It may be possible to group terms in such a way that each group has a common factor. If no common factor
can be extracted, try other groupings. Here are some tips:

1. Group the terms in such a way that each group has a common factor.
2. The factored groups should also have a common factor. If not, then change your grouping.
3. Factor out the common factor from each group.
Note: It is not yet completely factored if there is still a plus or minus sign outside the groupings. In other
words, your final answer should contain factors and only factors and not terms.
Completing the Square
Example: x4 + 4y 4 = (x2 + 2y 2 2xy)(x2 + 2y 2 + 2xy)
1. Add and subtract a Perfect Square to obtain a difference of a Perfect Square Trinomial and a Perfect
Square.
2. Factor the resulting Difference of Two Squares will result.
Note: If the term needed to make the polynomial a perfect square is not a perfect square term, completing
the square is not applicable.
Exercises. Factor completely.
1. 10x + 15yz

18. x4 + 64

2. 4x3 y 2 + 6x2 y 3

19. x4 y 8 3x2 y 4 + 1

3. 24a + 16b 64c

20. x6 27y 3 x4 3x2 y 9y 2

4. a2 b3 c4 a3 b4 c5 + 2a2 b4 c4

21. a4 + 6a2 b4 + 25b8

5. 3x(x + 4y)2 (4 x)3 + (x + 2y)(4 x)2

22. x2n + 2xn y n + y 2n

6. 16x2 9y 2

23. 4x4m 12x4m y 8m + 9y 8m

7. 25x4 y 8 64z 2

24. 64m6 + 16m3 + 1

8. (x + 3)2 (y + 2)2

25. 3b2 + 2ab + 2ac + 3bc

9. (3x 2y)2 25z 2

26. 64n6 16n3 + 1

10. x2 (x2 1) 9(x2 1)

27. 4x2 + 16xy + 16y 2 + 7x + 14y 15

11. x6 64

28. 16a4 + 40a2 b + 25b2 + 12a2 + 15b 18

12. 8x3 125

29. 4x4 17x2 y 2 + 4y 4

13. x3 64y 3

30. 36x7 y 2 + 39x5 y 6 12x3 y 10

14. 1 + 8x9

31. 18x3 + 12x2 y + 2xy 2 3x2 xy 3x

15. x2 + 2x 3

32. 8ab6 16a3 b4 + 2a5 b2

16. 24 5z z 2

33. r9 + 3r6 4

17. 8x2 14x 15

34. x4 yz x3 y 3 xy 4 z x3 z 3 + xyz 4 y 3 z 3