GRADE 8 – FACTORING POLYNOMIALS

Learning Competency:
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

Concept
FACTORING is the opposite process of multiplying.
For Instance:
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Multiply 7 ● 11 = 77 (multiplication) here the product is 77
Factor-out 77 = 7 ● 11 (factorization) here the factors are 7 and 11
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Multiply 2 ● 3● 3● x● x● x● y● y = 18x3y2 (multiplication)
Factor-out 18x3y2 = 2 ● 3● 3● x● x● x● y● y (factorization)
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Terms and Definitions:

• Factors of a number are the numbers that divide the original number evenly.
i.e. 45 can be factored as \ 1 ● 45 \ 3 ● 15 \ 5● 9 \ here 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, and 45 can divide the number 45
evenly.
• Writing a number as a product of factors is called a factorization of the number.
i.e. 45 , its possible factorizations are \ 1 ● 45 \ 3 ● 15 \ 5● 9 \ here there are three possible ways
• The prime factorization of a number is the factorization of that number written as a product of prime
numbers.
i.e. 45x3y2z = 3 ● 3 ● 5● x● x● x● y● y● z, here the factors should be all prime numbers
• Common factors are factors that two or more numbers have in common.
i.e. 45 and 75; by listing the factors of 45 are {1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 45} and the factors of 75 are {1, 3, 5, 15, 25, 75}
here the common factors between 45 and 75 are {1, 3, 5, 15} if we take -out the Greatest Common Factor
(GCF) it will be 15.

Factoring polynomials
To factor an expression means to write an equivalent expression that is a product
To factor a polynomial means to write the polynomial as a product of other polynomials
A factor that cannot be factored further is said to be a prime factor (prime polynomial)
A polynomial is factored completely if it is written as a product of prime polynomials

The Greatest Common Factor of terms of a polynomial is the largest factor that the original terms share
For example:
What is the GCF of 7x2 and 21x (factor-out each terms)
7x2 = 7●x●x
21x = 3 ● 7● x
Here the factors they have in common are 7 and x, so the GCF will be 7● x = 7x

What is the GCF of 24a2b2c3, 12ab4c2 and 18a3b3c (factor-out each terms)
24a2b2c3 = 2 ● 2 ● 2● 3● a● a● b● b● c● c● c
4 2
12ab c = 2 ● 2 ● 3 ● a● b● b● b● b● c● c
3 3
18a b c = 3 ● 2 ● 3 ● a● a● a● b● b● b● c
Here the factors they have in common are 2, 3, a, b, b and c, so the GCF will be 2● 3● a● b● b● c = 6ab2c

ACTIVITY

I. Factor-out the following terms using prime factorization.

1.) 72 = ______________________________
2.) 15x2 = ______________________________
3.) 45ab2= ______________________________
4.) 125d3e2f = ______________________________
5.) 28a5bc4d2 = ______________________________

II. Find the Greatest Common Factor (GCF) of the following set of terms.

1.) 108 = ______________________________ GCF = ___________

72 = _______________________________

2.) 10p 2 = ______________________________ GCF = ___________

5q = ________________________________

3.) 18x3y2 = ______________________________ GCF = ___________

24x2y3 = ______________________________

4.) 21a4b3c2 = ______________________________ GCF = ___________

28a2b5 = _______________________________

5.) 36r5s4t3u = ______________________________ GCF = ___________

90r3s3t4u3 = ______________________________