Factoring Quadratics

in Two Variables

Topic 6.7.1

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Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1

California Standard: What it means for you:

11.0 Students apply basic You’ll learn how to factor
factoring techniques to second- quadratic expressions
and simple third-degree containing two variables.
polynomials. These techniques
include finding a common factor
for all terms in a polynomial, Key words:
recognizing the difference of two • quadratic
squares, and recognizing perfect • factor
squares of binomials.
• trial and error

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Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1

So far, most of the quadratics you’ve factored have had

only one variable — but the same rules apply if there are
two variables.

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Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1

Quadratics With Two Variables Can Also Be Factored

In Section 6.6 you saw that a quadratic expression
such as x2 + 2x + 1 can be written as two factors
— in this case (x + 1)(x + 1).

The same is true of an expression such as x2 + 2xy + y2

— it can be written as (x + y)(x + y).

The method for factoring an expression like this is the

same as before.

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Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 1
Factor the following expression: x2 + 4xy + 3y2
Solution
x2 + 4xy + 3y2 = (x + )(x + )
To fill the gaps you need two numbers or expressions that
multiply together to make 3y2 and add together to make 4y.
Try out some sets of numbers or expressions that multiply
to make 3y2:
• 3y2 and 1 add together to make 3y2 + 1
• 3y and y add together to make 4y
So x2 + 4xy + 3y2 = (x + 3y)(x + y).
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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 2

Factor the following expression: 3p2 + 5pq + 2q2

Solution

3p2 + 5pq + 2q2 = (3p + )(p + )

Filling these gaps is a little more complicated.

You need two numbers or expressions that will

multiply together to make 2q2 and, when multiplied by
the 3p and p respectively, add together to make 5pq.

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Solution
Solution
continues…
follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 2

Factor the following expression: 3p2 + 5pq + 2q2

Solution (continued)

Try out some sets of numbers or expressions:

• (3p + q)(p + 2q) — this would give pq-terms

of 6pq and pq, which add to make 7pq

• (3p + 2q)(p + q) — this would give pq-terms

of 3pq and 2pq, which add to make 5pq

5pq is what you need, so 3p2 + 5pq + 2q2 = (3p + 2q)(p + q).
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Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Guided Practice
Factor each polynomial below.
1. x2 + 3xy + 2y2 2. x2 + 14xy + 40y2
(x + y)(x + 2y) (x + 10y)(x + 4y)
3. a2 + 9ab + 18b2 4. p2 + 7pq + 12q2
(a + 3b)(a + 6b) (p + 3q)(p + 4q)
5. d2 + 21md + 20m2 6. k2 + 8pk + 12p2
(d + 20m)(d + m) (k + 6p)(k + 2p)

7. x2 – xy – 2y2 8. x2 – 2xz – 8z2

(x + y)(x – 2y) (x + 2z)(x – 4z)

9. a2 – ab – 12b2 10. x2 – 5xy + 6y2

(a + 3b)(a – 4b) (x – 2y)(x – 3y)

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Solution follows…
Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Guided Practice
The areas of the rectangles below are the products
of two binomials with integer coefficients.
Find the possible length and width of each rectangle.
11. Area = (x2 + 3xa + 2a2) ft2 (x + a) ft by (x + 2a) ft

12. Area = (y2 – 9yb + 14b2) in2 (y – 2b) in by (y – 7b) in

13. Area = (3x2 – 4xb + b2) ft2 (3x – b) ft by (x – b) ft

14. Area = (5a2 – ab – 18b2) m2 (5a + 9b) m by (a – 2b) m

(2c + d) ft by (2c + d) ft
15. Area = (4c2 + 4cd + d2) ft2
(4x + y) in by (3x – 2y) in
16. Area = (12x2 – 5xy – 2y2) in2
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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 3

Factor the following expression: 2m2 – 11mp + 5p2

Solution

2m2 can be factored into 2m and m, so:

2m2 – 11mp + 5p2 = (2m – )(m – )

To fill the gaps you need two terms in p that will multiply
together to make 5p2, and when multiplied by 2m and m
respectively, will add together to make –11mp.

Try out some sets of parentheses that multiply to make 5p2…

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Solution
Solution
continues…
follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 3

Factor the following expression: 2m2 – 11mp + 5p2

Solution (continued)

• (2m – 5p)(m – p) — this would give mp-terms of –2mp

and –5mp, which add to make –7mp

• (2m – p)(m – 5p) — this would give mp-terms of –10mp

and –mp, which add to make –11mp

The second one gives the –11mp needed,

so 2m2 – 11mp + 5p2 = (2m – p)(m – 5p).
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Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 4

Factor the following expression: 9x2 + 6xz – 8z2

Solution

The z2-term is negative, so one of the z-terms will be negative

and the other positive. So that means there are a lot more
combinations to try out.

9x2 can be made by either 3x × 3x or 9x × x, and –8z2 can be

made by any of –2z × 4z, 2z × –4z, 8z × –z, and –8z × z.

Try out some sets of parentheses…

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Solution
Solution
continues…
follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 4

Factor the following expression: 9x2 + 6xz – 8z2

Solution (continued)
• (9x – 4z)(x + 2z) — this would give 18xz and –4xz,
which add to make +14xz
• (9x + 2z)(x – 4z) — this would give –36xz and 2xz,
which add to make –34xz
• (9x – 2z)(x + 4z) — this would give 36xz and –2xz,
which add to make +34xz
None of these add to make +6xz, so keep trying…
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Solution continues…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Example 4

Factor the following expression: 9x2 + 6xz – 8z2

Solution (continued)
• (9x + 4z)(x – 2z) — this would give –18xz and 4xz,
which add to make –14xz
• (3x – 4z)(3x + 2z) — this would give 6xz and –12xz,
which add to make –6xz
• (3x – 2z)(3x + 4z) — this would give 12xz and –6xz,
which add to make +6xz
You can stop here because +6xz is the expression you
are trying to get. So 9x2 + 6xz – 8z2 = (3x – 2z)(3x + 4z). 14
Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Guided Practice
Factor each of the polynomials below.
17. 2x2 – 5xy – 3y2 18. 3m2 – 7mp + 2p2
(2x + y)(x – 3y) (3m – p)(m – 2p)
19. 3x2 + 17xy + 10y2 20. 4x2 + 9xy + 2y2
(3x + 2y)(x + 5y) (4x + y)(x + 2y)
21. 3g2 + 7gh + 4h2 22. 2a2 + 9ab + 9b2
(3g + 4h)(g + h) (2a + 3b)(a + 3b)

23. 4f 2 – 16gf + 15g2 24. 49w2 + 7wz – 6z2

(2f – 5g)(2f – 3g) (7w + 3z)(7w – 2z)

25. 8m2 – 2mh – 15h2 26. 6x2 + 17xy + 12y2

(4m + 5h)(2m – 3h) (3x + 4y)(2x + 3y)

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Solution follows…
Lesson
Topic
1.1.1 Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Guided Practice
The areas of the rectangles below are the products
of two binomials with integer coefficients.
Find the possible dimensions of the rectangles.
27. Area = (2m2 + 3mn – 2n2) ft2 (2m – n) ft by (m + 2n) ft

28. Area = (a2 + 8ab + 15b2) in2 (a + 5b) in by (a + 3b) in

29. Area = (3x2 + 10xy + 8y2) m2 (3x + 4y) m by (x + 2y) m

30. Area = (15x2 – 29xy + 14y2) ft2 (15x – 14y) ft by (x – y) ft

(3a – 2b) ft by (2a + 5b) ft

31. Area = (6a2 + 11ab – 10b2) ft2
2(3c + 2d) m by (c + d) m or
32. Area = (6c2 + 10cd + 4d2) m2 (3c + 2d) m by 2(c + d) m 16
Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Independent Practice
Factor each of these polynomials.
1. p2 – 7pq + 10q2 2. g2 + 4hg – 21h2
(p – 2q)(p – 5q) (g + 7h)(g – 3h)

3. c2 + 3cd – 40d2 4. m2 + 8mn – 20n2

(c – 5d)(c + 8d) (m + 10n)(m – 2n)

5. y2 – 8xy + 15x2 6. 5p2 + 26pq + 5q2

(y – 3x)(y – 5x) (5p + q)(p + 5q)

7. 2r2 + 11rk + 14k 2

(2r + 7k)(r + 2k)
8. 3x2 – 8xy – 3y 2
(3x + y)(x – 3y)

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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Independent Practice
Simplify and factor the following polynomials.
9. (x2 + 13x + 8) – (3x2 + 10x – 3) – (x2 + 2x + 6) + (4x2 – 5x – 2)
(x – 3)(x – 1)
10. (5x2 + 2x + 4) – (6x2 – 3x + 7) + (4x2 – x – 4)
(3x + 7)(x – 1)
11. (4x2 – 6xy – 10y2) – (2x2 – 8xy + 2y2)
2(x – 2y)(x + 3y)

12. (6x2 + 3xy + 8y2) – (3x2 – 12xy – 10y2)

3(x + 2y)(x + 3y)

13. (2t2 – 8tz – 5z2) – (4t2 + 2tz – 15z2) + (5t2 + tz – 40z2)

3(t – 5z)(t + 2z)
14. (6x2 – 4xy – 25y2) – (2x2 + 4xy + 25y2) – (2x2 + 4xy – 18y2)
2(x – 8y)(x + 2y)
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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Independent Practice
The areas of the circles below are products of  and
a binomial squared. Find the radius of each circle.
15. Area of circle is (9x2 + 24xy + 16y2) in2 (3x + 4y) in

16. Area of the circle is (4x2 – 20ax + 25a2) m2 (2x – 5a) m

17. Area of the circle is (9y2 + 48zy + 64z2) ft2 (3y + 8z) ft

18. Area of the circle is (4m2 + 20mn + 25n2) ft2 (2m + 5n) ft

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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Independent Practice
The areas of the parallelograms below are the products
of two binomials with integer coefficients. Find the
dimensions of each parallelogram if a = 10 and b = 5.
19. Parallelogram with area (8a2 – 10ab + 3b2) ft2 25 ft by 15 ft

20. Parallelogram with area (4a2 – 9b2) ft2 5 ft by 35 ft

21. Parallelogram with area (12a2 + 11ab – 5b2) ft2 65 ft by 25 ft

15 ft by 85 ft
22. Parallelogram with area (40a2 – 51ab – 7b2) ft2
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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Independent Practice
Factor the following polynomials.
23. 6a2z2k + 20z2abk + 16b2z2k 2z2k(3a + 4b)(a + 2b)

24. 36a2b2c – 15ab3c – 6b4c 3b2c(4a + b)(3a – 2b)

25. 25x3y2 – 5x2y3 – 90xy4 5xy2(5x + 9y)(x – 2y)

4z2c(2a + b)2
26. 16a2z2c + 16abz2c + 4b2z2c

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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1
Independent Practice
Factor and simplify completely.
27. 12x2(x + 2) + 25xy(x + 2) + 12y2(x + 2)
(x + 2)(3x + 4y)(4x + 3y)

28. 18a2b2(a – 1) – 33ab3(a – 1) – 30b4(a – 1)

3b2(a – 1)(2a – 5b)(3a + 2b)

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Solution follows…
Topic
Factoring Quadratics in Two Variables
6.7.1

Round Up
This is a long process, so it’s easy to make
mistakes.
You should always check your answer by
multiplying out the parentheses again.
If you don’t get the expression you started with,
you must have gone wrong somewhere.
That means you’ll need to go back a stage in your
work and try a different combination of factors.

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