NewFactoringInstructions September30,2017

Another way to factor! Always begin by factoring out GCF so you

have
ax2 + bx + c
where a is positive.
1.) Determine Product (multiply), Sum (add), and Factors with
appropriate +/ signs:
P: a*c
S: b
F: F1, F2 where: F1 + F2 = b
and F1*F2 = a*c
Shortcut: if a = 1, you can now write your binomial factors:
ax2 + bx + c = (x + F1)(x + F2)
(with appropriate signs for F1 and F2)
You do not have to use this shortcut. All steps work for any polyonmial.

2.) Rewrite polynomial with bx expanded using F1x + F2x = bx:

ax2 + bx + c
ax2 + F1x + F2x + c
3.) Factor the GCF out of ax2 + F1x. You will have x out front,
possibly with a coefficient. This should look like x(x )
4.) Factor the GCF out of F2x + c. You will have a number out front,
and the x term in the brackets must be positive remember that the
greatest common factor might be 1. This should look like (x ).
5.) The coeffients outside the brackets form one of your binomial
factors. The binomial in brackets from steps 3 and 4 is your second
binomial factor. Note that the brackets of steps 3. and 4. should be
the same if they aren't, you've made a mistake.
ax2 + bx + c = ( x )(x )

PreCalculus20S/30S 1