F A C TO R I N G D O T S Find two numbers such the product is –24

and their sum is 2. By trial and error, the pair

Factor the binomial 4x2 – 49.
that should work is –4 and 6.
At first, it appears that this is not a
Use the two numbers (attached with
difference of two squares. What we need
variable x) to replace the middle term of the
is to try rewriting it in the form that is
original trinomial.
easily recognizable.

For the first term of the binomial, what

term when multiplied by itself gives 4x2 ?
That should be 2x since

(2x)(2x) = (2x)2 = 4x2.

Separate them into two groups using the
For the second term, the number when
parenthesis symbol. Make sure to leave the
multiplied by itself gives 49 is 7 because
middle sign outside.
2
(7)(7) = (7) = 49.

The solution to this problem looks like

this,

Now, it’s time to factor each expressions in

FACTORING PST
Factor the trinomial 8x2 + 2x − 3 as a
product of two binomials.
the parenthesis. The GCF of the first
parenthesis is 4x while the second is
3. Eventually we should obtain equivalent
expressions in the two parenthesis. Factor
out that common expression 2x-1 to get the
final answer!

Multiply the first and last constants of the

trinomial. That should be (8)(–3) = –24.

The final answer then is