2.

3 Factoring Polynomials
Expanding

( x +1 )( 2 x−1 )=2 x 2+ x −1

Factoring

Strategies for Factoring Polynomials:

1. Divide by the greatest common factor (GCF)

**always look for this first

a) 6 x 2−3 x b) 7 xy + x 2 y

2. Factoring a trinomial of the form a x 2+ bx+ c , where a=1.

 Look for 2 numbers that add up to b and multiply to get c

a) x 2+ 3 x +2 b) y 2 +20 y +36

3. Factoring trinomials of the form a x 2+ bx+ c , where a ≠ 1.

 Look for 2 numbers that add up to b and multiply to a x c

a) 3 x 2+5 x +2 b) 2 x2 −x−10
 4. Factoring polynomials that are difference of squares
**only when 2 perfect squares are subtracted

a) 81− y 2 b) 4 x2 −25 y 2

c) 9−(x + 4)2 d) −z 2+ 100

5. Factoring polynomials that factor as a perfect square

**middle term is 2 times the square
a +2 ab+ b2=(a+b)2
2
root of the first term times the
a 2−2 ab+b2 =(a−b)2 square root of the last term

a) x 2+ 6 x+ 9 b) 25 y 2−20 y +4

6. Factoring by grouping
**look for this when there are more than 3 terms
 Find a common factor between groups of terms to produce the same bracket

a) 2 x3 + x 2−10 x−5 b) 18 x 3−2 x 2−27 x +3

Combination of types:

a) 8 y 2−98 b) 3 x 2−30 x+72