Numbers have factors:

factors 2x3=6

And expressions (like x2+4x+3) also have factors:

factors

Factoring

Factoring (called "Factorising" in the UK) is the process of finding the factors:

Factoring: Finding what to multiply together to get an expression.

It is like "splitting" an expression into a multiplication of simpler expressions.

Example: factor 2y+6

Both 2y and 6 have a common factor of 2:

2y is 2 × y

6 is 2 × 3

So we can factor the whole expression into:

2y+6 = 2(y+3)

So 2y+6 has been "factored into" 2 and y+3

Factoring is also the opposite of Expanding:

expand vs factor

Common Factor

In the previous example we saw that 2y and 6 had a common factor of 2

But to do the job properly we need the highest common factor, including any variables

Example: factor 3y2+12y

Firstly, 3 and 12 have a common factor of 3.

So we could have:

3y2+12y = 3(y2+4y)

But we can do better!

3y2 and 12y also share the variable y.

Together that makes 3y:

3y2 is 3y × y

12y is 3y × 4
So we can factor the whole expression into:

3y2+12y = 3y(y+4)

Check: 3y(y+4) = 3y × y + 3y × 4 = 3y2+12y

More Complicated Factoring

Factoring Can Be Hard !

The examples have been simple so far, but factoring can be very tricky.

Because we have to figure what got multiplied to produce the expression we are given!

factoring cake

It is like trying to find which ingredients

went into a cake to make it so delicious.

It can be hard to figure out!

Experience Helps

With more experience factoring becomes easier.

Example: Factor 4x2 − 9

Hmmm... there don't seem to be any common factors.

But knowing the Special Binomial Products gives us a clue called the "difference of squares":

difference of squares

Because 4x2 is (2x)2, and 9 is (3)2,

So we have:

4x2 − 9 = (2x)2 − (3)2

And that can be produced by the difference of squares formula:

(a+b)(a−b) = a2 − b2

Where a is 2x, and b is 3.

So let us try doing that:

(2x+3)(2x−3) = (2x)2 − (3)2 = 4x2 − 9

Yes!
So the factors of 4x2 − 9 are (2x+3) and (2x−3):

Answer: 4x2 − 9 = (2x+3)(2x−3)

How can you learn to do that? By getting lots of practice, and knowing "Identities"!

Remember these Identities

Here is a list of common "Identities" (including the "difference of squares" used above).

It is worth remembering these, as they can make factoring easier.

factor expand

a2 − b2 = (a+b)(a−b)

a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a+b)(a+b)

a2 − 2ab + b2 = (a−b)(a−b)

a3 + b3 = (a+b)(a2−ab+b2)

a3 − b3 = (a−b)(a2+ab+b2)

a3+3a2b+3ab2+b3 = (a+b)3

a3−3a2b+3ab2−b3 = (a−b)3

There are many more like those, but those are the most useful ones.
Advice

The factored form is usually best.

When trying to factor, follow these steps:

"Factor out" any common terms

See if it fits any of the identities, plus any more you may know

Keep going till you can't factor any more

There are also Computer Algebra Systems (called "CAS") such as Axiom, Derive, Macsyma, Maple,
Mathematica, MuPAD, Reduce and many more that are good at factoring.

More Examples

Experience does help, so here are more examples to help you on the way:

Example: w4 − 16

An exponent of 4? Maybe we could try an exponent of 2:

w4 − 16 = (w2)2 − 42

Yes, it is the difference of squares

w4 − 16 = (w2 + 4)(w2 − 4)

And "(w2 − 4)" is another difference of squares

w4 − 16 = (w2 + 4)(w + 2)(w − 2)

That is as far as I can go (unless I use imaginary numbers)

Example: 3u4 − 24uv3

Remove common factor "3u":

3u4 − 24uv3 = 3u(u3 − 8v3)

Then a difference of cubes:

3u4 − 24uv3 = 3u(u3 − (2v)3)

= 3u(u−2v)(u2+2uv+4v2)

That is as far as I can go.

Example: z3 − z2 − 9z + 9

Try factoring the first two and second two separately:

z2(z−1) − 9(z−1)

Wow, (z-1) is on both, so let us use that:

(z2−9)(z−1)
And z2−9 is a difference of squares

(z−3)(z+3)(z−1)

That is as far as I can go.

. The product of two consecutive integers is 272. Find the value of each integer.

2. The product of two consecutive even integers is 528. Find the value of each integer.

3. A rectangular swimming pool is twice as long as it is wide. A small concrete walkway surrounds the
pool. The walkway is a constant 2 feet wide and has an area of 196 square feet. Find the dimensions of
the pool.

1. The product of two consecutive integers is 272. Find the value of each integer.

The first thing you need to do is to define the integers.

Let n = the first integer Let n+1 = the 2nd integer

The product means to multiply so we need to multiply the two integers together.

(First integer)*(Second integer) = 272

(n)*(n + 1) = 272

Now multiply everything out and set it equal to zero.

n2 + n = 272

n2 + n -272 = 272 – 272

n2 + n -272 = 0

Now you need to factor and solve.

(n + 17)(n – 16) = 0

n + 17 = 0 or n – 16 = 0

n = -17 or n = 16

Now you need to go back and answer the questions using each answer.

If n = -17 then the 2nd integer is n + 1 or -17 + 1 = -16 so the two integers are -17 and -16

If n = 16 then the 2nd integer is n + 1 or 16 + 1 = 17 so the two integers are 16 and 17.

Remember that negative answers are not always bad.

2. The product of two consecutive even integers is 528. Find the value of each integer.

We are going to follow the same steps as in #1.

Let n = the first integer Let n+2 = the 2nd integer

(First integer)*(Second integer) = 528

(n)*(n + 2) = 528

n2 + 2n = 528

n2 + 2n -528 = 528 – 528

n2 + 2n -528 = 0

(n + 24)(n – 22) = 0

n + 24 = 0 or n – 22 = 0

n = -24 or n = 22

If n = -24 then the 2nd integer is n + 2 or -24 + 2 = -22 so the two integers are -24 and -22

If n = 22 then the 2nd integer is n + 2 or 22 + 2 = 24 so the two integers are 22 and 24.
3. A rectangular swimming pool is twice as long as it is wide. A small concrete walkway surrounds the
pool. The walkway is a constant 2 feet wide and has an area of 196 square feet. Find the dimensions of
the pool.

The first thing you need to do is to define your variables. In this example, the length is described in terms
of the width so define the width.

Let w = the width of the pool

The problem says that the length is twice as long as the width and remember that twice means to
multiply by 2.

Let 2w = the length of the pool

This means that the area of the pool is A = (w)(2w)

The pool has a concrete walkway of 2 feet surrounding it so this means that there is 2 feet on EACH SIDE
of the width and the length so we need to increase BOTH the length and width by 4 in order to get the
length and width of the pool and the walkway.

This means that the width is w + 4 and the length is 2w + 4. This means that the walkway and pool area
is: A = (w + 4)(2w + 4)

We are also given that the area of the walkway and the pool is 196 square feet.
In this case we have two areas. We have the area of the pool and the area of the walkway and pool (See
picture).

In order to find the dimensions we need to use the two different areas.

Area Total = Area Walkway and Pool – Area Pool

196 = (w + 4)(2w + 4) - (w)(2w)

196 = (2w2 + 4w + 8w + 16) – 2w2

196 = 2w2 + 4w + 8w + 16 – 2w2

196 = 12w+ 16

196 - 16 = 12w+ 16- 16

180 = 12w

12 12

15 = w
So now we know that the width of the pool is 15 ft. But we aren’t done yet. The question asked for the
dimensions so we still need to find the length. The length is twice the width so 2 * 15 = 30ft.

The dimensions of the pool are 15 ft by 30 ft.

Answers to More Practice

1. The base is 12 mm and the height is 10 mm

2. The integers are 14 and 15 or -15 and -14

3. The numbers are 12 and 13 or -13 and -12

4. The width is 4 ft and the length is 12 ft

5. The width is 5 cm and the length is 6 cm