Factoring Review

Part 0 – Greatest Common Factor

● Always start by looking for a GCF for the coefficients (numbers)

● Then look for any variables that are common in all terms
● If the square term is negative, factor a negative out of all terms as well

2 2
Ex. 3𝑥 + 6𝑥 + 18 Ex. − 4𝑥 − 6𝑥

Part 1 – Factoring Simple Trinomials

A trinomial of the form where , can often be factored into the product of two binomials

using simple trinomial factoring.

In this method, the trinomial , is factored into two terms with coefficients that have a

product equal to the constant term, , and with a sum equal to the coefficient of the middle term, .

Ex.1 Factor using simple trinomial Ex. 2 Factor

factoring.

In , the constant term is 18, and the middle

term has a coefficient of -11.

Step 1

Find two integers with a product of 18 and a sum of -11.

The pairs of integers with a product of 18 and their

respective sums are as follows:

Product Sum

The integers required are and .

Step 2
Rewrite the trinomial as the product of two binomials

with the numbers found above.

Part 2 – Factoring Trinomials where 𝑎≠1(there are 2 methods provided below, I find Option 2 easier, you

choose which one you are most comfortable with)

A trinomial of the form where , can often be factored into the product of two binomials
using a method similar to simple trinomial factoring.

When factoring trinomials of the form 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐, where 𝑎≠0 and 𝑎≠1, using decomposition, the

middle term is decomposed into two terms with coefficients that have a product equal to (the coefficient of

the term and the constant term) and a sum equal to the coefficient of the middle term, .

Option 1 – Decomposition

2
Ex. 1 Factor 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 4 Ex. 2 Factor using decomposition.

2
In 3𝑥 + 4𝑥 − 4, the product of the coefficient of

and the constant term is 3×(− 4) =− 12. The middle

term has a coefficient of 4.

Step 1

Find two integers with a product of -12 and a sum of 4.

The pairs of integers with a product of -12 and their

respective sums are as follows:

Product Sum

1×(− 12) =− 12 1 + (− 12) =− 11

2×(− 6) =− 12 2 + (− 6) =− 4

3×(− 4) =− 12 3 + (− 4) =− 1

(− 1)×12 =− 12 (− 1) + 12 =+ 11

(− 2)×6 =− 12 (− 2) + 6 =+ 4
(− 3)×4 =− 12 (− 3) + 4 =+ 1

The integers required are -2 and 6.

Step 2 - Express + 4𝑥 as − 2𝑥 + 6𝑥.

2
3𝑥 + 10𝑥 − 8

2
3𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 8

Step 3 - Group the terms, and remove the greatest

common factor (GCF) from each group.

2
3𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 6𝑥 − 8

(3𝑥2 − 2𝑥) + (6𝑥 − 8)

𝑥(3𝑥 − 2) + 2(3𝑥 − 2)

Step 4 - Factor out the common binomial.

𝑥(3𝑥 − 2) + 2(3𝑥 − 2)
(3𝑥 − 2)(𝑥 + 2)

Option 2 – Simplified Decomposition

Ex. 3 Factor 3𝑥 + 10𝑥 − 8 Ex. 4 Factor using simple

In , the product of the coefficient of and decomposition.

the constant term is . The middle term has

a coefficient of 10.

Step 1

Find two integers with a product of -24 and a sum of 10.

The pairs of integers with a product of -24 and their

respective sums are as follows:

Product Sum

The integers required are -2 and 12.

Step 2

Express the trinomial as a product of two binomials with the

first term in each having the same coefficient of the

term. Divide everything by the coefficient of the term,

complete the binomials with integers found in step 1

Step 3

Factor out the common factors from each binomial if

possible. Cancel any common factors between numerator

and denominator and then simplify what is remaining.

Part 3 – Factoring A Perfect Square Trinomial and a Difference of Squares

Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

A perfect square is an expression that can be expressed as the product of two identical terms. For example, 9,

, and are all perfect squares.

Some special trinomials have perfect squares as first and last terms. If the first term, , is a perfect square and

the last term, , is a perfect square, such that the middle term is or , then the trinomial is called a
perfect square trinomial.

The factored form of is the binomial squared:

The factored form of is the binomial squared:

Ex. 1 Factor the trinomial Ex. 2 Factor the trinomial

Because the first and last terms are perfect squares,

this trinomial may be a perfect square trinomial.

Step 1 - Comparing the trinomial to

the form , determine and .

Check: , which is the middle term

So the trinomial is a perfect square

trinomial.

Step 2 - Factor the trinomial.

The trinomial is of the form

, which factors to .

The trinomial factors to

Factoring a Difference of Squares

If the first term of a binomial is a perfect square and the last term is a subtracted perfect square, then the

binomial is referred to as a difference of squares.

Factoring a difference of squares , where and are rational numbers or monomials, results in the

product of two conjugates.

For example, to factor , apply the formula .

Ex. 3 Factor using difference of squares. Ex. 4 Factor the difference of squares

Since both terms are perfect squares and there is a

subtraction sign in between, we can factor using the

difference of squares method.

Step 1

Set up a product of two binomials, one with an addition

operation and one with a subtraction operation. The

order of the binomials does not matter.

Step 2

Determine the square root of the first term in the

difference of squares expression, and use the root as

the first term in each of the bracketed binomials.

Step 3

Determine the square root of the second term in the

difference of squares expression, and use the root as

the second term in each of the bracketed binomials.

Therefore, the factored form of the difference of

squares