Mathematics for Engineers

Engr. Jessica B. Castillo

Special Products involving Squares
a(x + y) = ax + ay (Distributive Law)

(x + y)(x − y) = x2 − y2 (Difference of 2 squares)

(x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2 (Square of a sum)

(x − y)2 = x2 − 2xy + y2 (Square of a difference)

The variables x and y above may represent a constant, a variable or both. So don’t forget
to use the parenthesis properly when using special products.
Example: Expand the following using Special Products.
1. 7𝑥 + 2𝑦 7𝑥 − 2𝑦

Solution:
Using the special product (x + y)(x − y) = x2 − y2
(7𝑥)2 −(2𝑦)2
= 49𝑥 2 − 4𝑦 2

2. (12 + 5𝑥𝑦)(12 − 5𝑥𝑦)

Solution:
(12)2 −(5𝑥𝑦)2
= 144 − 25𝑥 2 𝑦 2
3. (𝑥 − 6)2

Solution:
Use the special product (x - y)2 = x2 - 2xy + y2
𝑥 − 6 2 = (𝑥)2 −2 𝑥 6 + (6)2
= 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 36

4. (5𝑥 + 2𝑦)2

Solution:
Use the special product (x + y)2 = x2 + 2xy + y2
(5𝑥 + 2𝑦)2 = (5𝑥)2 +2 5𝑥 2𝑦 + (2𝑦)2
= 25𝑥 2 + 20𝑥𝑦 + 4𝑦 2
Special Products Involving Cubes

(𝑥 + 𝑦)3 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3 Cube of a Sum

(𝑥 − 𝑦)3 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑦 3 Cube of a Difference

𝑥 + 𝑦 𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3
𝑥 − 𝑦 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 𝑥 3 − 𝑦 3
Example:
1. (2𝑥 + 3)3

Solution:
Use the special product (𝑥 + 𝑦)3 = 𝑥 3 + 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3
(2𝑥 + 3)3 = (2𝑥)3 + 3 2𝑥 2 3 + 3 2𝑥 3 2 + (3)3
= 8𝑥 3 + 36𝑥 2 + 54𝑥 + 27

2. (3𝑥 2 − 2𝑦)3

Solution:
Use the special product (𝑥 − 𝑦)3 = 𝑥 3 − 3𝑥 2 𝑦 + 3𝑥𝑦 2 − 𝑦 3
(3𝑥 2 − 2𝑦)3 = (3𝑥 2 )3 − 3 3𝑥 2 2 2𝑦 + 3 3𝑥 2 2𝑦 2 − (2𝑦)3
= 27𝑥 6 − 54𝑥 4 𝑦 + 36𝑥 2 𝑦 2 − 8𝑦 3
Pascal’s Triangle
n Coefficients
(𝑥 + 𝑦)𝑛 0 1
1 1 1
2 1 2 1
3 1 3 3 1
4 1 4 6 4 1
5 1 5 10 10 5 1

*Power of the variables x and y Note: Coefficients 1 in the Pascal’s Triangle

represents one monomial only and the rest
x – decreasing y – increasing would be the product of the two monomials.
*If (𝑥 − 𝑦)𝑛 , change the sign alternately.
Example
Expand (2𝑥 − 3)5
Solution
By Pascal’s Triangle n Coefficients
5 1 5 10 10 5 1

If (𝑥 − 𝑦)5 then 𝑥 5 − 5𝑥 4 𝑦 + 10𝑥 3 𝑦 2 − 10𝑥 2 𝑦 3 + 5𝑥𝑦 4 − 𝑦 5

Replace x and y with the given (x as 2x and y as 3)

(2𝑥)5 −5 2𝑥 4 (3) + 10 2𝑥 3
3 2
− 10 2𝑥 2
3 3
+ 5(2𝑥)(3)4 −(3)5
32𝑥 5 − 240𝑥 4 + 720𝑥 3 − 1080𝑥 2 + 810𝑥 − 243
Factoring
1. Greatest Common Factor
The first method for factoring polynomials will be factoring out the greatest
common factor. When factoring in general this will also be the first thing that we
should try as it will often simplify the problem.
To use this method all that we do is look at all the terms and determine if
there is a factor that is in common to all the terms. If there is, we will factor it out of
the polynomial. Also note that in this case we are really only using the distributive
law in reverse. Remember that the distributive law states that
a(b+c)=ab+ac
In factoring out the greatest common factor we do this in reverse. We notice
that each term has an aa in it and so we “factor” it out using the distributive law in
reverse as follows,
ab+ac=a(b+c)
Example:
Factor out the greatest common factor from each of the following polynomials.
1. 8x4−4x3+10x2
Solution:
(4·2·x2·x2) – (2·2·x2·x) + (5·2·x2)
GCF 2x2
In factoring, divide 8x4 – 4x3 + 10x2 by the gcf 2x2
8𝑥 4 −4𝑥 3 +10𝑥 2 8𝑥 4 4𝑥 3 10𝑥 2
or − 2𝑥2 +
2𝑥 2 2𝑥 2 2𝑥 2
4x2 – 2x + 5
(2x2)(4x2 – 2x + 5) Answer
or (4·2·x2·x2) – (2·2·x2·x) + (5·2·x2)
4x2 – 2x + 5
(2x2)(4x2 – 2x + 5) Answer
8x4−4x3+10x2 = (2x2)(4x2 – 2x + 5)
2. x3y2+3x4y+5x5y3
Solution:
(x3·y·y) + (3·x3·x·y) + (5·x3·x2·y2·y)
GCF x3y
(x3·y·y) + (3·x3·x·y) + (5·x3·x2·y2·y) y + 3x + 5x2y2
x3y(y + 3x + 5x2y2) Answer
x3y2+3x4y+5x5y3 = x3y(y + 3x + 5x2y2)
3. 9x2(2x+7)−12x(2x+7)
[3·3·x·x·(2x+7)] – [3·4·x·(2x+7)]
GCF 3x(2x+7)
[3·3·x·x·(2x+7)] – [3·4·x·(2x+7)] 3x – 4
3x(2x + 7)(3x – 4) Answer
2. Factoring By Grouping
Example: Factor by grouping each of the following.
1. 3𝑥2 − 2𝑥 + 12𝑥 − 8
Solution:
Check for GCF
Group by two terms
3𝑥2 − 2𝑥 + 12𝑥 − 8
Find the GCF of each group
3x2 – 2x 3·x·x – 2·x x(3x – 2)
12x – 8 3·4·x – 2·4 4(3x – 2)
Then the given becomes x(3x – 2) + 4(3x – 2)
GCF is (3x – 2)
Then
(3x – 2) (x + 4) Answer
• Another Solution:
Group it by 3𝑥 2 + 12𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 8
Find the GCF of each
3x2 + 12x 3·x·x + 3·4·x 3x(x + 4)
2x + 8 2·x + 2·4 2(x + 4)
Then 3x(x + 4) – 2(x + 4)
GCF (x + 4)
Then
(x + 4)(3x – 2) Answer
2. 𝑥5 + 𝑥 − 2𝑥4 − 2
Solution:
Check for GCF
Group (𝑥5 + 𝑥) − 2𝑥 4 + 2
Find the CGF of each
x5 + x x·x4 + x x(x4 + 1)
2x4 + 2 2·x4 + 2 2(x4 + 1)
Then x(x4 + 1) – 2(x4 + 1)
GCF (x4 + 1)
Then
(x4 + 1)(x – 2) Answer
3. 2𝑥5 − 6𝑥3 − 4𝑥2 + 12
Solution:
Check for GCF, GCF 2, Factor out, 2(𝑥5 − 3𝑥3 − 2𝑥2 + 6)
Group 𝑥5 − 3𝑥 3 − 2𝑥 2 − 6
Find the GCF for each
x5 – 3x3 x3·x2 – 3·x3 x3(x2 – 3)
2x2 – 6 2·x2 – 2·3 2(x2 – 3)
Then x3(x2 – 3) – 2(x2 – 3)
GCF (x2 – 3)
Then
2(x2 – 3)(x3 – 2) Answer
3. Factoring Quadratic Polynomials
Example:
1. x2+2x−15
Since the first term is x2 we know that the factoring must take the form.
x2+2x−15 = (x+__)(x+__)
• We know that it will take this form because when we multiply the two linear terms the first term must
be x2 and the only way to get that to show up is to multiply x by x. Therefore, the first term in each factor
must be an x. To finish this we just need to determine the two numbers that need to go in the blank spots.
• We can narrow down the possibilities considerably. Upon multiplying the two factors out these two numbers
will need to multiply out to get -15. In other words, these two numbers must be factors of -15. Here are all
the possible ways to factor -15 using only integers.
(−1)(15) (1)(−15) (−3)(5) (3)(−5)
• Now, we can just plug these in one after another and multiply out until we get the correct pair. However,
there is another trick that we can use here to help us out. The correct pair of numbers must add to get the
coefficient of the x term. So, in this case the third pair of factors will add to “+2” and so that is the pair we are
after.
• Here is the factored form of the polynomial.
x2+2x−15=(x−3)(x+5) Answer
• Again, we can always check that we got the correct answer by doing a quick multiplication.
2. 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 24
Solution:
x2 – 10x + 24 = (x + __ )(x + __)
Possible pairs for +24
(6)(4) (-6)(-4) (8)(3) (-8)(-3) (12)(2) (-12)(-2)
From the given above, the only pairs when added that results to –10x is
(-6) and (-4)
Therefore
x2 – 10x + 24 = (x – 6)(x – 4)
3. 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 − 30
Solution:
x2 + 7x – 30 = (x + __ )(x + __)
Possible pairs to multiply for –30
(-6)(5) (6)(-5) (10)(-3) (-10)(3) (15)(-2) (-15)(2)
From the given above, the only pairs when added that results to +7 is
(10) and (-3)
Therefore
x2 + 7x – 30 = (x + 10)(x – 3)
4. 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8
Solution:
3x2 + 2x – 8 = (3x + __)(x + __)
Possible pairs to multiply for – 8
(4)(-2) (-4)(2) (8)(-1) (-8)(1)
Form the binomials and multiply each until you find the correct pair
(3x + 4)(x – 2) = 3x2 – 6x + 4x – 8 = 3x2 – 2x – 8
(3x – 4)(x + 2) = 3x2 + 6x – 4x – 8 = 3x2 + 2x – 8
(3x + 8)(x – 1) = 3x2 – 3x + 8x – 8 = 3x2 + 5x – 8
(3x – 8)(x + 1) = 3x2 + 3x – 8x – 8 = 3x2 – 5x – 8
Therefore the correct answer is
3x2 + 2x – 8 = (3x – 4)(x + 2)
5. 12𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 − 15
Solution:
Taking the possible pairs for the first term 12x2,
(6x + __)(2x + __)
(4x + __)(3x + __)
For – 15,
(5)(-3) (-5)(3)
These are the possible factors to try
(6x + 5)(2x – 3) (6x – 5)(2x + 3) (2x + 5)(6x – 3) (2x – 5)(6x + 3)
(4x + 5)(3x – 3) (4x – 5)(3x + 3) (3x + 5)(4x – 3) (3x – 5)(4x + 3)
The correct pair
12x2 + 11x – 15 = (3x + 5)(4x – 3)
4. Special Forms

a2+2ab+b2=(a+b)2
a2−2ab+b2=(a−b)2
a2−b2=(a+b)(a−b)
a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2)
a3−b3=(a−b)(a2+ab+b2)
Example:
1. x2 + 20x + 100
Solution:
Use a2+2ab+b2=(a+b)2
(x)2 + 2(x)(10) + (10)2
Then,
x2 + 20x + 100 = (x + 10)2
2. 4x2 – 20x + 25
Solution:
Use a2−2ab+b2=(a−b)2
(2x)2 – 2(2x)(5) +(5)2
Then,
4x2 – 20x + 25 = (2x – 5)2
3. 25x2 – 9
Solution:
Use a2−b2=(a+b)(a−b)
(5x)2 − (3)2
Then
25x2 – 9 = (5x + 3)(5x – 3)
4. 16x4 – 81y4
Solution:
Use a2−b2=(a+b)(a−b)
(4x2)2 – (9y2)2
16x4 – 81y4 = (4x2 + 9y2)(4x2 – 9y2)
*(4x2 – 9y2) = (2x)2 – (3y)2 = (2x + 3y)(2x – 3y)
Therefore
16x4 – 81y4 = (4x2 + 9y2)(2x + 3y)(2x – 3y)
5. 8x3 + 1
Solution:
Use a3+b3=(a+b)(a2−ab+b2)
(2x)3 + (1)3
Then
8x3 + 1 = (2x + 1)(4x2 – 2x + 1)
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