Algebra

Factoring Special Products

 Use the Patterns!
First and last terms are perfect squares!

(2x + 3)2 4x² + 12x + 9 Perfect Square Trinomial!

The middle term is twice the product of the square roots

of the first and third terms.

(2p - 4) (2p + 4) 4p² - 16 Difference of two squares (DTS)!

The difference of… two squares!

First and last terms are perfect squares!

(2x - y)2 4x² - 4xy + y² Perfect Square Trinomial!

The middle term is twice the product of the square roots

of the first and third terms.

The key is to recognize when you see a perfect square trinomial or a DTS!
 Factoring Patterns!
First and last terms are perfect squares!

a² + 2ab + b2 Perfect Square Trinomial!

(a + b)2
The middle term is twice the product of the square roots
of the first and third terms.

a² - b2 Difference of two squares (DTS)!

(a - b)(a + b)
The difference of… two squares!

First and last terms are perfect squares!

a² - 2ab + b² Perfect Square Trinomial! (a - b)2

The middle term is twice the product of the square roots
of the first and third terms.

The key is to recognize when you see a perfect square trinomial or a DTS!
 Factor!

2x²- 18 2(x + 3)(x – 3)

2(x²- 9) DTS!

49t²- ¼r2 (7t + ½r)(7t – ½r)

DTS!

81x²- 25y² (9x – 5y)(9x + 5y)

DTS!

27x²- 12 3(3x + 2)(3x – 2)

3(9x²- 4)
DTS!
 Factor!

-3x²- 18x - 27 -3(x + 3)2

-3(x²+ 6x + 9)
Perfect Square Trinomial!

9y²- 60y + 100 (3y – 10)2

Perfect Square Trinomial!

2x²- 12x + 18 2(x – 3)2

2(x²- 6x + 9)
Perfect Square Trinomial!

49x²+ 84x + 36 (7x + 6)2

Perfect Square Trinomial!
 Solve!
3x²- 30x = -75 (x – 5)2 = 0
3x²- 30x + 75 = 0 x= 5
x²- 10x + 25 = 0
Divide each side by 3!

Perfect Square Trinomial!

36y²- 121 = 0 (6y + 11)(6y – 11) = 0

y = 11/6, -11/6
DTS!

-6x²+ 8x + 14 = 0
Divide each side by -2!
(x + 1 )(3x - 7) = 0
3x²- 4x – 7 = 0 x = -1, 7/3
 Solve!
4x²- 1 = 0 (2x + 1)(2x – 1) = 0
DTS!
x = ½, -½

7x²- 10x = -3 (7x – 3 )(x – 1) = 0

7x²- 10x + 3 = 0 x = 1, 3/7

32x²- 80x + 50 = 0
Divide each side by 2!
(4x – 5)2 = 0
16x²- 40x + 25 = 0 x = 5/4
Perfect Square Trinomial!