LEARNING ACTIVITY

SHEET
- Grade 8 -

Most Essential Learning Competency

(MELC)
Quarter 1, Weeks 1 and 2
Factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials
with common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum
and difference of two cubes, perfect square trinomials, and
general trinomials), Solves problems involving factors of
polynomials
(M8AL-Ia-b-1, M8AL-Ib-2)

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Note: Revision is suggested for contextualization and addition of more activities. You can also download
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Name: __________________________ Grade Level: _________
Section: _______________________ Date: __________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

Factoring Polynomials

Background Information for Learners

This material will help you factor polynomials completely using
different methods. Bear in mind the following factoring techniques
which involve special forms of polynomials that make operations and
factorizations easier.

 FACTORING THE GREATEST COMMON

MONOMIAL FACTOR (GCMF)

Factor 15 x 5+ 9 x 3
 Find the GCF of the numerical
coefficients.
GCF (15,9 )=3
 Find the variable with the least exponent
that appears in each term of the
polynomial.
3 5
x ,x
3
Choose x since 3is less than 5.
 The product of the results in the first two
steps is the Greatest Common Monomial
Factor (GCMF) of the polynomial.
3
GCMF=3 x
 Divide the given polynomial by the
GCMF.
15 x 5 +9 x 3
3
=5 x 2 +3
3x

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  The resulting quotient in the previous step
is the other factor. Thus, the factored
form of the given polynomial is 3 x 3 (5 x 2 +3).

 DIFFERENCE OF TWO SQUARES

x 2− y 2=( x+ y)( x− y )

Factor 25 a2 −49 b2
 Find the square roots of both terms.
25 a2 5a
2
49 b 7b
 Get the sum and difference of the results
in the previous step.
5 a+7 b ,5 a−7 b
 Write the product of the results in the
second step. This serves as the factored
form.
(5 a+7 b)(5 a−7 b)

 SUM AND DIFFERENCE OF TWO CUBES

∑ : x 3 + y 3=( x+ y)(x 2−xy + y 2 )

3 3 2 2
DIFFERENCE : x − y =(x− y)( x + xy + y )

Factor 8 x 3+ 27 y 3 ¿
 Find the cube roots of both terms.
8x
3
2x
27 y
3
3y

 Write their sum as the first factor.

2 x+3 y
 The second factor is a trinomial obtained
by: (a) squaring the first term of the first
factor, (b) subtracting the product of the
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 first and second terms of the first factor,
and (c) squaring the last term of the first
factor.
2 2
a .(2 x) =4 x
b . ( 2 x ) ( 3 y )=6 xy ( subtract later)
2 2
c .(3 y) =9 y
Result: 4 x2 −6 xy+ 9 y 2
 The previous result is the second factor.
Write the product of the two previous
results as the factored form.
2 2
(2 x+3 y )(4 x −6 xy+ 9 y )

Factor 27 x 3−64 y 3 ( DIFFERENCE)

 Find the cube roots of both terms.
27 x 3 3x
3
64 y 4y
 Write their difference as the first factor.
3 x−4 y
 The second factor is a trinomial obtained
by: (a) squaring the first term of the first
factor, (b) Adding the product of the first
and second terms of the first factor, and
(c) squaring the last term of the first
factor.
a .(3 x )2=9 x 2
b .(3 x )(4 y )=12 xy
2 2
c .(4 y) =16 y
Result: 2
9 x + 12 xy +16 y
2

 The previous result is the second factor.

Write the product of the two previous
results as the factored form.
2 2
(3 x−4 y)( 9 x +12 xy+ 16 y )

 FACTORING PERFECT SQUARE TRINOMIALS

CASE 1 :a2 +2 ab+ b2=(a+b)2

CASE 2 : a2 −2 ab+b2 =(a−b)2

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 Factor x 2+ 12 x +36 (CASE 1)
 Find the square roots of the first and last
terms.
x
2
x
36 6
 Add the square roots in the first step.
x +6
 Square the result in the previous step. The
result is the factored form.
2
( x +6)

Factor 4 x2 −12 x +9 (CASE 2)

 Find the square roots of the first and last
terms.
4x
2
2x
9 3
 Subtract the square roots in the first step.
2 x−3

 Square the result in the previous step. The

result is the factored form.
2
(2 x−3)

 FACTORING GENERAL TRINOMIALS

Factor 6 x 2−5 x−6

 Get the factors of the first and last terms.
2
6x (6 x )( x),(3 x)(2 x)
−6 ( 6 )(−1 ) , (−6 ) ( 1 ) ,
( 3 ) (−2 ) , (−3 )( 2 ) ,

 Get the right combination of factors that

will determine the middle term of the
given trinomial. This is done by trial and
error approach where all possible factors
are listed and the sum of the product of
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 the outer terms and the product of the
inner terms is determined.

First try: 6x
(3 x−2)(2 x +3)

−6 x
6 x +(−6 x )=0

4x
Second try:
(3 x+ 3)( 2 x−2)

−9 x
4 x+ (−9 x ) =−5 x

Third try:
(3 x+ 2)(2 x−3)

−4 x

 Therefore, the factored form should be

( 3 x+ 2 )( 2 x−3 ) . 9x
−4 x+ 9 x =5 x
This is quite time-consuming at the

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 beginning. But after a good amount of
practice you will get used to it and be able
to get the correct combination faster.

NOTE: Always perform factoring using Greatest Common Monomial

Factor (GCMF) first before applying other factoring methods. More
examples and exercises can be found in Grade 8 Learning Module and
Learner’s Material.

Learning Competency with code

Factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials

with common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and
difference of two cubes, perfect square trinomials, and general
trinomials), Solves problems involving factors of polynomials
(M8AL-Ia-b-1, M8AL-Ib-2)

Activity 1
Give the Greatest Common Monomial Factor of the following
polynomials.
1. 7 x 2+ 28 x
2. 6 a 6+ 10 a3
3. 36 y 4 +63 y 3 −27 y 2
4. 12 ab2−24 a2 b
5. 4 w−8 w 5
6. 18 s 2 t 4 +12 s2 t3 +24 s2 t 2
7. 20 u7 v +5 u6 v
8. 21 c 3 d e 10−18 c 5 d 2 e 11+30 c 8 d 4 e 20
9. 100 a b2 c−500 b 8 c 2 d
10. 40 g7 h+64 g 10 h i2
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 Activity 2
Write the following expressions in factored form.

1. 6 a 3+ 9 a2
2. 15 x 3 y +25 x 2 y−45 xy
3. 9−27 d
4. 26 b12−39 b 11+52 b10
5. 11 m3 n p4 +22 m2 n p5 −33 m4 p6 −44 mn p9
6. 35 e 2 f g 3−49 e f 2 g 2
7. 7 h5 i8+ 9 h9 i6
8. 24+ 12k 3−36 k
9. 120 p 2 q +60 p q5 +30 pqr
10. 25 b25 c−125 b100 c 25

Activity 3
Complete the following table by supplying the missing expressions.

Polynomials Factored Form

2 4
1. 36 a b −¿ ¿ (6 a b 2+ 7)(¿¿ )
2. 6 2
121 x ¿ z
3 2
(11 x y −12 z)¿
3. 6
7 m −343 n
8
¿¿ (¿¿ n 4 )
4. 2 4 12 4 6 20
289 p q r −361 s t u 2 6 2 3
(17 p q r +19 s t ¿ )¿
1 ¿
5. ¿¿
144

Activity 4
Write the correct factored form of the following polynomials using
the formula of difference of two squares.
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 1. 100 x 18 −81 y 14
2. 3 w 4 z2 −75
3. a 2−(b−c )2
4. 256 m10 n 6−196 r 12 s 8
5. 121 c 2−d 2
6. 25 e 2 f 2 g6 −169 k 4 l2 o8
7. 216 a 4 bc−6 bc 5
8. x 8 y 16 z 22−p 4 q26 r 6
9. u2−36 v 10
10. 16 j2 k 8 −1

Activity 5
The circle below contains ten (10) expressions that are perfect cubes.
Identify these expressions and write them on the spaces provided.
27 y 3
5
6x 5
64 v w
24 28 16 e
3 15
m n 3
100 a b c
9 12

39
8g
33
7
−216 h
69 b
60
21
343 z
125 x l o
9 29 9 27
729 c d
6 18
1000 x y

40
3 3
1331 t 6 u30 421 d j 23 p

3 32
36 q r

11
15 k
9
512 h

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 1. __________________
2. __________________
3. __________________
4. __________________
5. __________________
6. __________________
7. __________________
8. __________________
9. __________________
10. __________________
Note: Your order of writing the expressions does not matter here.

Activity 6
Write the correct factored form of the following polynomials using
the formula of either sum or difference of two cubes.

1. a 3 b 6−125
2. x 3+ 8 y 3
3. 56 v 3 −7 w3
4. 1−729 c 3 d 3
5. 27 m6 n9 +64 r 6 s9
6. d 9 −1
7. 512 h4 +h
8. −8 x 3 y 3 +27
9. 2 u3 +54 v 3
10. 343 k 6 −1728

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 Activity 7
Match the expressions in Column A to their corresponding results in
Column B. Write the letter of your choice on the space provided
before each number.

Column A Column B

____ 1. (6 z )(6 z) a. 4 a +12 ab+9 b

2 2

____ 2. (2 a+3 b)
2
b. 16 m n +16 mn+ 4
2 2

____ 3. (7 p−1)(7 p−1) c. 9 x + 6 xy+ y

2 2

____ 4. (4 mn+ 2)( 4 mn +2) d. 36 z 2

____ 5. (3 x+ y)2 e. 49 p −14 p+ 1

2

Activity 8
Factor the following trinomials completely.

1. 9 x 2+ 6 x+1
2. b 4−22 b2 c +121 c2
3. 16 n2−40 np+25 p2
4. a 2+20 a+100
5. 36 r 8 s 4 +36 r 4 s 2 t u 3+ 9 t2 u6
6. w 26−32 w13 +256
7. 4 d 4 +28 d 2 f + 49 f 2
8. x 2+ 48 xy +576 y 2
9. 81 a2 b2−36 abcd+ 4 c2 d 2
10. 2 z2 −16 z+32

Activity 9

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Fill in the missing expressions and write the appropriate trinomials on
the blank spaces provided below.

1.
4x 2

x ¿¿ 2x

6 24 x ¿¿

_______________________

2.
7w 5

2w 14 w
2

¿¿
1
¿¿ 5

______________________

3.
10 c 3

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−9
 10 c
2
3c

¿¿ ¿¿

_______________________

4.
8m −1

5m ¿¿ −5 m

−4 ¿¿ 4

_______________________

5.
6y 2

11 y ¿¿

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¿¿
−18 y −6
 −3

_______________________

Activity 10
Factor the following trinomials completely.

1. x 2+ 17 x +72
2. 3 y 2 +22 y +24
3. 6 b 2−7 b−20
4. 24 m2−6 mn−9 n2
5. 10 q2 +23 q +6
6. 2 w2 +14 w+24
7. 5 c 2−46 c−99
8. x 2+ 14 x+45
9. 8 a 2 b2 c 2−10 abc−3
10. 9 k 2+61 k −14

Activity 11
TRUE OR FALSE. Read each statement below carefully. Write T if
you think the given statement is true. Write F if you think the given
statement is false. Place your answer on the space provided after each
statement.

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 1. The product of 3 x+ 4 and 2 x−1 is a perfect square trinomial.
____
2. The Greatest Common Monomial Factor is the greatest factor
contained in every term of an algebraic expression. ____
3. The terms in 8 d 3−729 are perfect cubes. ____
4. The numbers −4 and 6 are the missing constants in p2−2 x−24=¿.
____
5. The factors of x 4 −25 are x 2−5 and x 2+ 5. ____
6. The Greatest Common Monomial Factor of the algebraic
expression 15 d 3 +12 d is 3 d . ____
7. The expression x 3+ y 3=( x + y )(x 2+ 2 xy + y 2 ) serves as a formula in
factoring polynomials that form sum of two perfect cubes. ____

8. We can factor 27 a 3−b3 as the product of 3 a−b and 9 a 2+3 ab−b 2.

____
9. Squaring the binomial 4 x−9 will result to a difference of two
squares. ____
10. Both ( x +2 )2=x 2+ 4 x +4 and z 3−64=(z−4 )¿
4 z+16 ¿ are true. ____

Activity 12
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Read the questions carefully. Write the letter
of your choice on the space provided before each number.

_____ 1. Find the missing term: ¿

a.2 , 9 b. 3 , 6 c. 3 , 7 d. 3 , 8

_____ 2. What value of y will make the largest area of the rectangle
with sides measuring x +3 and x−3?

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 3 7
a.5.75 b. 5 5 c. 5.216 d. 5 11

_____ 3. What is the complete factorization of the polynomial

2
4 m + 8 m−60 ?
a.4 (m−5)( m−3) b. 4 (m+5)(m−3)
c. 4 (m−5)( m+3) d. 4 (m2 +2 m−15)

_____ 4. Some students were asked to find the length of the side of a
square whose area is represented by the polynomial x 2+ 10 x +25 . In
response, Angelo factored this expression and obtained ( x +5)(x+5). Did
he factor it correctly?
a. Yes, because it resembles a sum of two squares and 5
multiplied by itself results to 25.
b. No, because it is not a perfect square trinomial. Angelo
needs to apply another factoring method.
c. No, because the given expression is not
factorable. The product of two binomials will not
always result to a trinomial.
d. Yes, because the given expression is a perfect
square trinomial and the stated factored form, if solved,
will go back to the given polynomial.

_____ 5. Which of the following polynomials is the product of 3 ab+ 4 c

and 4 ab−3 c ?
a.12 a2 b2 +7 abc−12 c 3 b.12 a2 b2 +7 abc−12 c 2 c.
12 a b +7 abc +12 c d. 12 a b −7 abc+12 c
2 2 2 2 2 2

_____ 6. Identify the missing expressions below.

3x 6

5x ¿¿

¿¿
−4 −24
−12 xprotocols always.
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 a.15 x , 30 x b. 15 x 2 , 30 x2
c. 15 x 2 , 30 x d.15 x 4 ,30 x

_____ 7. Which expression is the Great Common Monomial Factor

of 12 w15 x3 y 6 z−18 w5 x 3 y 7 z 4 +24 w3 x 9 y 4 z?
a.6 w 2 x 3 y 6 z b. 3 w 3 x 3 y 4 z
c. 3 w 5 x 3 y 6 z d.6 w 3 x 3 y 4 z

_____ 8. Find the area of a triangle whose base and height measure
( 4 n+2) meters and (3 n+1) meters, respectively.
a.(6 n 2+5 n+1) square meters
b. (12 n2 +10 n+2) square meters
c. (12 n2 +5 n+1) square meters
d. (6 n 2+10 n+ 2) square meters

_____ 9. Which of the following statements is true?

a. The square of a binomial is called a perfect
square binomial.
b. The square of a trinomial is called a perfect
square trinomial.
c. The square of a binomial is called a perfect
square trinomial.
d. The square of a trinomial is called a perfect
square binomial.

_____ 10. What is the surface area of a cube whose side measures
(2 a−b) in?
a.(24 a2−12 ab+6 b 2) square inches
b. (12 a2−24 ab+6 b 2) square inches
c. (24 a2−24 ab+6 b 2) square inches
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 d. (24 a2−12 ab+24 b2)square inches

Reflection

Complete the following statement:

I have learned that _______________________

_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
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 References

Teacher’s Guide in Grade 8 Mathematics

Learner’s Material in Grade 8 Mathematics

Answer Key

Activity 3
1. 49 , 6 a b
2

2. 4
y , 12 z
3. 7,m
3

4. u10 ,17 p q 2 r 6 −19 s 2 t 3 u10

5. 6
64 c d ,1 /12
2

Activity 2 Activity 1
1. 3 a2 (2 a+3) 1. 7x
2. 5 xy (3 x +5 x−9)
2
2. 2a
3

3. 9( 1−3 d )
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3. 9y
2

4. 13 b10 (2 b2−3 b +4) 4. 12 ab

5. 5. 4w
4 2 3 2 5
11 m p (m n+2 mnp−3 m p −4 n p )
6. 7 ef g2 (5 eg−7 f )
6. 6s t
2 2

6
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Activity 5
1. 27 y 3
2. 343 z 60
3. 1000 x 6 y 18
4. 729 c 9 d 27
5. 8 g33
6. 1331 t6 u30
7. 512 h9
8. m3 n15
9. 125 x 21
10. −216 h39
Note: Your order of writing the expressions does not
matter here.

Activity 4
1. (10 x 9+ 9 y 7)(10 x 9−9 y 7 )
2. 3(w2 z+5)(w2 z −5)
3. (a−b+ c)( a+b−c)
Remember: Practice
4. (16 mPersonal
n +14 rHygiene
5 3
s )(16 mprotocols
6 4
n +14 r always.
5 3 6 4
s )
5. (11 c+ d)(11 c−d)
6. (5 ef g3 +13 k 2 lo 4 )(5 ef g3−13 k 2 l o4 )
7. 6 bc (6 a 2+ c 2)(6 a 2−c 2)
4 8 11 2 13 3 4 8 11 2 13 3
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Answer Key

Activity 8 Activity 7
2
1. (3 x+ 1) ∨(3 x+1)(3 x+ 1) 1. d
2. (b 2−11 c)2∨(b2−11 c )(b2−11 c ) 2. a
3. (4 n−5 p)2∨(4 n−5 p)(4 n−5 p)
3. e
4. (a+ 10)2∨(a+ 10)(a+10)
5. (6 r 4 s 2+3 t u 3)2∨(6 r 4 s2 +3 t u3 )(6 r 4 s2 +3 t u 3) 4. b
6. (w13−16)2∨( w13−16)(w13−16) 5. c
.
7. (2 d 2 +7 f )2∨( 2 d2 +7 f )( 2d 2 +7 f )
8. (x +24 y )2∨( x +24 y )(x +24 y )
9. ( 9 ab−2 cd )2∨( 9 ab−2 cd ) ( 9 ab−2 cd )
10. 2( z−4)2∨2( z−4)( z−4)
.

Activity 6
1. (a b 2−5)(a2 b 4+ 5 a b2 +25)
2. (x +2 y)(x 2−2 xy +4 y2 )
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3. 7( 2 v−w)(4 v 2+2 vw +w 2)
4. (1−9 cd)(1+ 9 cd+ 81 c2 d 2)
5. (3 m 2 n 3+ 4 r 2 s 3 )( 9 m 4 n6−12 m 2 n 3 r 2 s 3 +16 r 4 s6 )
6. (d 3−1)(d 6 + d3 +1)
2
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Answer Key

Activity 12 Activity 11 Activity 10

1. c 1. F 1. (x +8)(x+ 9)
2. a 2. T 2. (3 y +4 )( y +6)
3. b 3. T 3. (3 b+ 4)(2 b−5)
4. d 4. F 4. 3(4 m−3 n)(2 m+n)
5. b 5. T 5. (10 q+ 3)( q+2)
6. c 6. T 6. 2(w+3)(w+ 4)
7. d 7. F 7. (5 c +9)(c−11)
8. a 8. F 8. ( x +5 ) ( x +9 )
9. c 9. F 9. (2 abc−3)(4 abc +1)
10. c 10. T 10. (9 k −2)(k +7)
. .
.

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 Activity 9
1. 4 x2 , 12 ,Trinomial : 4 x 2+26 x +12
2. 2
10 w , 7 w ,Trinomial :14 w +17 x+5
3. 2
−90 c ,−27 ,Trinomial :10 c −87 cx−27
4. 2 2
40 m ,−32 m ,Trinomial : 40 m −37 m+ 4
5. 66 y 2 ,22 y ,Trinomial : 66 y 2+ 4 y−6

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