Factorising Quadratics

Questions

1) Factorise the expression below by finding a pair of numbers which multiply and add as required.

𝑥𝑥 2 + 20𝑥𝑥 + 75

2) Now factorise this expression in the same way.

Can you think of two numbers which multiply to give 75 and add to give −20?

𝑥𝑥 2 − 20𝑥𝑥 + 75

We also have to consider negative numbers when factorising!

If two numbers multiply to be positive, and add to be negative, they must both be negative.

3) Factorise the expressions below by inspection. You may need to use trial-and-error with a few different pairs of
numbers.

a) b) c)
𝑥𝑥 2 + 6𝑥𝑥 + 8 𝑥𝑥 2 − 6𝑥𝑥 + 8 𝑥𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑥 + 4
d) e) f)
𝑏𝑏 2 − 7𝑏𝑏 + 12 𝑧𝑧 2 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 1 𝑥𝑥 2 − 7𝑥𝑥 + 10

4) Factorise the expression below by finding a pair of numbers which multiply and add as required. This question has
been partially completed for you.
𝑥𝑥 2 + 7𝑥𝑥 − 30

10 × ⎕ = −30 10 + ⎕ = 7

5) Complete the table below.

−10 is the product of ⎕ and −5

−10 is also the product of ⎕ and −5

−10 is the product of ⎕ and −5

−10 is also the product of ⎕ and −5

We know that when the constant (the numeric part) in an expression is positive, it must be the product of either
two positive numbers or two negative numbers.

When this constant is negative, we know that it is the product of one negative number and one positive number.

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Factorising Quadratics

6) Below is an incomplete table. The first two columns contain single numbers, and the next two columns contain
the result of multiplying and adding these numbers, respectively.
Fill in all the empty spaces in this table.

𝑨𝑨 𝑩𝑩 𝑨𝑨 × 𝑩𝑩 𝑨𝑨 + 𝑩𝑩
5 50
12 15
4 −12
−4 −12
20 −12
−20 8
36 −13
−15 2
−15 −2

7) Factorise the expressions below by inspection.

a) b) c)
𝑥𝑥 2 − 7𝑥𝑥 − 30 𝑎𝑎2 + 4𝑎𝑎 − 12 𝑧𝑧 2 + 10𝑧𝑧 + 21
d) e) f)
2 2
𝑧𝑧 − 10𝑧𝑧 + 21 𝑧𝑧 − 4𝑧𝑧 − 21 𝑧𝑧 2 + 4𝑧𝑧 − 21
g) h) i)
𝑥𝑥 2 − 23𝑥𝑥 − 50 𝑝𝑝2 − 17𝑝𝑝 + 60 𝑚𝑚2 + 7𝑚𝑚 − 60
j) k) l)
𝑟𝑟 2 + 8𝑟𝑟 − 180 𝑥𝑥 2 − 31𝑥𝑥 + 150 𝑥𝑥 2 − 9𝑥𝑥 − 90
m) n) o)
2 2
𝑗𝑗 + 𝑗𝑗 − 110 𝑘𝑘 + 110𝑘𝑘 + 3000 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑥 − 90

8) Factorise the expressions below to determine the values of the capitalised pronumerals.
Note: 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵 are both positive numbers.

a) b)
2
𝑥𝑥 − 13𝑥𝑥 + 40 = (𝑥𝑥 − 𝐴𝐴)(𝑥𝑥 − 𝐵𝐵) 𝑐𝑐 2 + 5𝑐𝑐 − 24 = (𝑐𝑐 + 𝐴𝐴)(𝑐𝑐 − 𝐵𝐵)
c) d)
𝑔𝑔2 − 12𝑔𝑔 − 45 = (𝑔𝑔 + 𝐴𝐴)(𝑔𝑔 − 𝐵𝐵) 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑥 − 56 = (𝑥𝑥 − 𝐴𝐴)(𝑥𝑥 + 𝐵𝐵)

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Factorising Quadratics

Answers

1) Factorise the expression below by finding a pair of numbers which multiply and add as required.

𝑥𝑥 2 + 20𝑥𝑥 + 75

The numbers which satisfy 𝐴𝐴 × 𝐵𝐵 = 75 and 𝐴𝐴 + 𝐵𝐵 = 20 are: 𝐴𝐴 = 15, 𝐵𝐵 = 5

Thus, the factorisation is: 𝑥𝑥 2 + 20𝑥𝑥 + 75 = (𝑥𝑥 + 15)(𝑥𝑥 + 5)

2) Now factorise this expression in the same way.

Can you think of two numbers which multiply to give 75 and add to give −20?

𝑥𝑥 2 − 20𝑥𝑥 + 75

For this expression, we have to think of negative numbers.

The numbers which satisfy 𝐴𝐴 × 𝐵𝐵 = 75 and 𝐴𝐴 + 𝐵𝐵 = −20 are: 𝐴𝐴 = −15, 𝐵𝐵 = −5

Thus, the factorisation is: 𝑥𝑥 2 − 20𝑥𝑥 + 75 = (𝑥𝑥 − 15)(𝑥𝑥 − 5)

We also have to consider negative numbers when factorising!

If two numbers multiply to be positive, and add to be negative, they must both be negative.

3) Factorise the expressions below by inspection. You may need to use trial-and-error with a few different pairs of
numbers.

a) b) c)
= 𝑥𝑥 2 + 6𝑥𝑥 + 8 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 6𝑥𝑥 + 8 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 5𝑥𝑥 + 4
= (𝑥𝑥 + 4)(𝑥𝑥 + 2) = (𝑥𝑥 − 4)(𝑥𝑥 − 2) = (𝑥𝑥 − 4)(𝑥𝑥 − 1)
d) e) f)
2 2
= 𝑏𝑏 − 7𝑏𝑏 + 12 = 𝑧𝑧 − 2𝑧𝑧 + 1 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 7𝑥𝑥 + 10
= (𝑏𝑏 − 3)(𝑏𝑏 − 4) = (𝑧𝑧 − 1)(𝑧𝑧 − 1) = (𝑥𝑥 − 5)(𝑥𝑥 − 2)

4) Factorise the expression below by finding a pair of numbers which multiply and add as required. This question has
been partially completed for you.
𝑥𝑥 2 + 7𝑥𝑥 − 30

10 × −3 = −30 10 + −3 = 7

Thus, the factorisation is: 𝑥𝑥 2 + 7𝑥𝑥 − 30 = (𝑥𝑥 + 10)(𝑥𝑥 − 3)

5) Complete the table below.

−10 is the product of −2 and −5

−10 is also the product of −2 and −5

−10 is the product of −2 and −5

−10 is also the product of −2 and −5

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use permitted. ACMNA233
Factorising Quadratics

We know that when the constant (the numeric part) in an expression is positive, it must be the product of either
two positive numbers or two negative numbers.

When this constant is negative, we know that it is the product of one negative number and one positive number.

6) Below is an incomplete table. The first two columns contain single numbers, and the next two columns contain
the result of multiplying and adding these numbers, respectively.
Fill in all the empty spaces in this table.

𝑨𝑨 𝑩𝑩 𝑨𝑨 × 𝑩𝑩 𝑨𝑨 + 𝑩𝑩
5 10 50 15
3 12 36 15
4 −3 −12 1
−4 3 −12 −1
−10 −2 20 −12
10 −2 −20 8
−9 −4 36 −13
5 −3 −15 2
3 −5 −15 −2

7) Factorise the expressions below by inspection.

a) b) c)
= 𝑥𝑥 2 − 7𝑥𝑥 − 30 = 𝑎𝑎2 + 4𝑎𝑎 − 12 = 𝑧𝑧 2 + 10𝑧𝑧 + 21
= (𝑥𝑥 − 10)(𝑥𝑥 + 3) = (𝑎𝑎 + 6)(𝑎𝑎 − 2) = (𝑧𝑧 + 3)(𝑧𝑧 + 7)
d) e) f)
= 𝑧𝑧 2 − 10𝑧𝑧 + 21 = 𝑧𝑧 2 − 4𝑧𝑧 − 21 = 𝑧𝑧 2 + 4𝑧𝑧 − 21
= (𝑧𝑧 − 3)(𝑧𝑧 − 7) = (𝑧𝑧 + 3)(𝑧𝑧 − 7) = (𝑧𝑧 − 3)(𝑧𝑧 + 7)
g) h) i)
2 2
= 𝑥𝑥 − 23𝑥𝑥 − 50 = 𝑝𝑝 − 17𝑝𝑝 + 60 = 𝑚𝑚2 + 7𝑚𝑚 − 60
= (𝑥𝑥 − 25)(𝑥𝑥 + 2) = (𝑝𝑝 − 12)(𝑝𝑝 − 5) = (𝑚𝑚 + 12)(𝑚𝑚 − 5)
j) k) l)
2 2
= 𝑟𝑟 + 8𝑟𝑟 − 180 = 𝑥𝑥 − 31𝑥𝑥 + 150 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 9𝑥𝑥 − 90
= (𝑟𝑟 − 10)(𝑟𝑟 + 18) = (𝑥𝑥 − 25)(𝑥𝑥 − 6) = (𝑥𝑥 − 15)(𝑥𝑥 + 6)
m) n) o)
2 2
= 𝑗𝑗 + 𝑗𝑗 − 110 = 𝑘𝑘 + 110𝑘𝑘 + 3000 = 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑥 − 90
= (𝑗𝑗 + 11)(𝑗𝑗 − 10) = (𝑘𝑘 + 50)(𝑘𝑘 + 60) = (𝑥𝑥 − 10)(𝑥𝑥 + 9)

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Factorising Quadratics

8) Factorise the expressions below to determine the values of the capitalised pronumerals.
Note: 𝐴𝐴 and 𝐵𝐵 are both positive numbers in each example.

a) b)
2
𝑥𝑥 − 13𝑥𝑥 + 40 = (𝑥𝑥 − 𝐴𝐴)(𝑥𝑥 − 𝐵𝐵) 𝑐𝑐 2 + 5𝑐𝑐 − 24 = (𝑐𝑐 + 𝐴𝐴)(𝑐𝑐 − 𝐵𝐵)

Need a pair of numbers which multiply to give 40. Need a pair of numbers which multiply to give −24.
They must also add to give −13. They must also add to give 5.

Thus, ‘−8 and −5’ is the correct pair. Thus, ‘8 and −3’ is the correct pair.

𝑥𝑥 2 − 13𝑥𝑥 + 40 = (𝑥𝑥 − 8)(𝑥𝑥 − 5) 𝑐𝑐 2 + 5𝑐𝑐 − 24 = (𝑐𝑐 + 8)(𝑐𝑐 − 3)

𝐴𝐴 = 8 𝐴𝐴 = 8
𝐵𝐵 = 5 𝐵𝐵 = 3
(or vice versa)
c) d)
𝑔𝑔2 − 12𝑔𝑔 − 45 = (𝑔𝑔 + 𝐴𝐴)(𝑔𝑔 − 𝐵𝐵) 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑥 − 56 = (𝑥𝑥 − 𝐴𝐴)(𝑥𝑥 + 𝐵𝐵)

Need a pair of numbers which multiply to give −45. Need a pair of numbers which multiply to give −56.
They must also add to give −12. They must also add to give −1.

Thus, ‘−15 and 3’ is the correct pair. Thus, ‘−8 and 7’ is the correct pair.

𝑔𝑔2 − 12𝑔𝑔 − 45 = (𝑔𝑔 + 3)(𝑔𝑔 − 15) 𝑥𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑥 − 56 = (𝑥𝑥 − 8)(𝑥𝑥 + 7)

𝐴𝐴 = 3 𝐴𝐴 = 8
𝐵𝐵 = 15 𝐵𝐵 = 7
𝐵𝐵 = 15 𝐵𝐵 = 7

Copyright © Maths Pathway 2018. Reproduction for classroom use permitted. ACMNA233