Name:________________________________________________Date;___________________

How to ...

Factor ax2 + bx + c

Pre-Requisite: Factoring by Grouping

When we have a quadratic polynomial whose leading coefficient is not zero, we have to find some other way of factoring it. As an example, well factor the polynomial

12x2 + 4x 1.
Step 1: Multiply the first coefficient and the last coefficient. Jot this down. Its not part of our answer, but its going to help us find our answer. Lets call this our magic number. 12(-1) = -12

12x + 4x 1
So our magic number is -12.

Step 2: Now we look for a pair of numbers that will multiply to get our magic number and add up to the b (the middle number). -1 & 12 The numbers that multiply to get -12 are: Our b in this case is 4, so we look for the pair that adds up to 4
1 & -12 -2 & 6 2 & -6 -3 & 4 3 & -4.

Step 3: We use the pair of numbers that we found in step 2 to rewrite the expression, by uncombining like terms. We use these numbers as coefficients on x terms like so: Since -2 6 = -12 and -2 + 6 = 4, we will use these numbers to rewrite 12x
2

+ 4x 1 as:

12x2 2x + 6x 1
Step 4: Now we have a quadratic expression with four terms. We can deal with thisjust factor by grouping. You already know how to do this! Step 4a: Insert parentheses: Step 4b: Factor GCF of each group: Step 4c: Factor common binomial: Step 5: All done!

(12x2 2x) + (6x 1) 2x(6x 1) +1(6x 1) (6x 1)(2x + 1)

Mr. Baldus