Elementary Algebra _ Chapter R: Review_R5

R.5: Factoring Polynomials

Objectives:
1. The Meaning of Factoring
2. Identify Common Monomial Factors
3. Factor Special Polynomial Forms
4. Factor a Second Degree Polynomial 𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪
5. Factor by Grouping
6. Factor Second Degree Polynomial 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪 , 𝑨 ≠ 𝟏

R5 Vocabulary:
Factor ‫عامل‬ Factor completely ‫حلل بصورة تامة‬
Prime number ‫عدد أولي‬ First degree ‫الدرجة األولى‬
Factorization ‫تحايل‬ Greatest common factor ‫العامل المشترك األكبر‬
Factor by Grouping ‫التحليل عن طريق التجميع‬ Second degree ‫الدرجة الثانية‬
Perfect square ‫مربع كامل‬ Difference of two cubes ‫حاصل فرق مكعبي حدين‬
Difference of two squares ‫حاصل فرق مربعي حدين‬ Sum of two cubes ‫حاصل جمع مكعبي حدين‬

1. Factoring

Recall: A prime number is a number which is divided by 1 and it self only.

For example; 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, …

Factoring a number means writing it as a product of two or more prime numbers.

For example, 180 = 22 × 32 × 5 (factored completely)
Factoring a polynomial means writing it as a product of polynomials of lower degree.
If a polynomial cannot be factored using coefficients, then it is prime or irreducible over the
integers.

When a polynomial has been written as a product of prime factors only, it is said to be
factored completely.

Identify which of the following is(are) a prime polynomial (over the

Exercise 1
integers). Justify your answer

a) 5 c) 3𝑥 + 4 e) 𝑥 2 + 9

b) 𝑥 2 − 1 d) 2𝑥 – 18 f) 𝑥 2 − 8

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2. Identify Common Monomial Factors

This is the simplest factoring procedure. It is based on factoring out a common factor.

In factoring polynomials, it is advisable to factor out the greatest common factor “GCF” at
first.

The GCF of an expression is the product of the factors that appear in each term, with each of
these factors raised to the smallest nonzero exponent appearing in any term.

Exercise 2 Find the Greatest Common Factor, GCF of the following.

Expressions GCF Expressions GCF

4,8 25𝑥𝑦 2 , 15𝑥 2 𝑦

12 , 18 , 24 5(𝑥 − 𝑦) , 15(𝑥 − 𝑦)3

7𝑥 2 𝑦 , 12𝑥 3 −(𝑎 − 𝑏) , −3(𝑏 − 𝑎)

Example 1 Factor the following completely using greatest common factor.

a) 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 b) 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 8

c) 12𝑥𝑦 2 − 20𝑥 2 𝑦 d) 6𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 3 + 2𝑥

e) 𝑥(𝑥 − 7) − (𝑥 − 7)2

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3. Factor Special Polynomial Forms

Formula
Formula Example
Name
9𝑦 2 − 25 =
Difference of 𝒂𝟐 − 𝒃𝟐 = (𝒂 − 𝒃)(𝒂 + 𝒃)
Two Squares 16 − 𝑥 2 =

Sum of Two 𝒂𝟑 + 𝒃𝟑 = (𝒂 + 𝒃)(𝒂𝟐 − 𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 ) 𝑥 3 + 125 =

Cubes

27 − 8𝑥 3 =
Difference of 𝒂𝟑 − 𝒃𝟑 = (𝒂 − 𝒃)(𝒂𝟐 + 𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 )
Two Cubes

𝒂𝟐 + 𝟐𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 = (𝒂 + 𝒃)𝟐 𝑥 2 − 22𝑥 + 121 =

Perfect
Squares 𝒂𝟐 − 𝟐𝒂𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 = (𝒂 − 𝒃)𝟐
36 − 24𝑥 + 4𝑥 2 =

Factor the following completely. If the polynomial cannot be factored,

Example 2
say it is prime.

a) 81𝑥 2 − 49𝑦 2 b) 4𝑦 2 + 20𝑦 + 25

c) 20𝑥 2 − 45𝑦 2 d) 𝑥 2 + 36

e) 𝑥 3 + 343 f) 2𝑎2 − 8𝑎𝑏 + 8𝑏 2

g) 16𝑎3 − 54𝑏 3

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 Elementary Algebra _ Chapter R: Review_R5

Multiple Choice Question. What number should be added to 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 to

Exercise 3
complete the square of the expression?

a. 12 b. 6 c. 36 d. 144

4. Factor Second Degree Polynomial 𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪.

The idea behind factoring a second-degree polynomial like 𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪 is to see whether it

can be made equal to the product of two, possibly equal, first-degree polynomials.

To factor a second-degree polynomial 𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶, find two integers whose product

is 𝑪 and whose sum is 𝑩.That is, if there are numbers 𝑎, 𝑏,where 𝑎𝑏 = 𝑪 and 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝑩,
then

𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶 = (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏)

Factor the following completely. If the polynomial cannot be factored,

Example 3
say it is prime.

a) 𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 10 b) 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 12

c) 𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 + 5 d) 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12

e) 8 − 7𝑥 − 𝑥 2 f) 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 8

g) The area of the top of the table can be expressed as 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 − 12. Find an expression that
represents dimensions of the table. What is its shape?

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5. Factor by Grouping

To factor an expression with more than three terms, this requires grouping the terms
together. It is not always obvious which terms to group; sometimes several different
groupings will work.
For example:
𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 + 8 = 𝑥 2 (𝑥 − 4) − 2(𝑥 − 4) = (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 2 − 2)

Example 4 Factor the following completely.

a) 𝑥 3 − 4𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8 b) 2𝑥 3 + 10𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 + 15

c) 4𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 20𝑥 − 5

6. Factor Second Degree Polynomial 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪 , 𝑨 ≠ 𝟏

To factor a second-degree polynomial 𝑨𝒙𝟐 + 𝑩𝒙 + 𝑪 , 𝑨 ≠ 1 where 𝐴, 𝐵, and 𝐶 have no

common factors, follow these steps:

Step 1: Multiply the coefficient of 𝑥 2 and the constant term “𝐴. 𝐶”

Step 2: Find a pair of integers 𝑎 & 𝑏 whose product is 𝐴. 𝐶 and their sum is 𝐵;
i.e. 𝑎𝑏 = 𝐴𝐶 & 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 𝐵

Step 3: Write 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝐵𝑥 + 𝐶 = 𝐴𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝐶
Step 4: Factor the last expression by grouping.

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For example:

In factoring 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 15, the product of the coefficient of 𝑥 2 and the constant term is
−30 . Now we need two factors of −30 whose sum is1. These numbers are 6 and−5 .

So 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 15 = 2𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 − 5𝑥 − 15 = 2𝑥(𝑥 + 3) − 5(𝑥 + 3) = (2𝑥 − 5)(𝑥 + 3)

Example 5 Factor the following completely.

a) 2𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 3 b) 3𝑥 2 − 14𝑥 + 8

c) 2𝑥 2 + 𝑥 − 6 d) 3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 8

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Factor the following completely. If the polynomial cannot be factored,

Exercise 4
say it is prime.

a) 24𝑥 6 − 3𝑥 3 b) 3𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 15

c) 81𝑥 4 − 16 d) 8𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 5

e) 𝑥𝑦 2 − 8𝑥𝑦 + 16𝑥𝑦 2 f) 4𝑥 2 (𝑥 + 2) − 2𝑥(𝑥 + 2)2

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Media: You may access these online resources for additional instruction and practice.

Identify GCF and Factor a Trinomial

Factor a Difference of Squares

Factor a Sum or Difference of Cubes

Factor and Solve Quadratic Equation - Trinomial a = 1

Factor and Solve a Quadratic Equation - a not 1

Factor and Solve a Quadratic Equation - Factor by Grouping

Guidelines for Factoring Polynomials:

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 Elementary Algebra _ Chapter R: Review_R5

Extra Exercises

1) Factor each polynomial by removing the common monomial factor.

a) 7𝑥 − 14 b) 2𝑥 2 − 2𝑥

c) 4𝑥+3 + 4𝑥

2) Factor the difference of two squares.

a) 𝑥 2 − 16 b) 9𝑥 2 − 4

3) Factor the perfect squares.

a) 𝑥 2 + 18𝑥 + 81 b) 4𝑥 2 − 28𝑥 + 49

4) Factor the sum or difference of two cubes.

a) 𝑥 3 + 27 b) 𝑥 3 − 125

c) 8𝑥 3 + 64

5) Factor each polynomial.

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 Elementary Algebra _ Chapter R: Review_R5

a) 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 b) 𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 8

c) 𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 16

6) Factor by grouping.

a) 6𝑥 2 + 9𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 6 b) 2𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 𝑥 − 2

c) (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 2)3 + 3(𝑥 + 3)2 (𝑥 − 2)2

7) Factor each polynomial.

a) 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8 b) 2𝑥 2 − 7𝑥 − 6

c) 3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 + 8

4) Factor each polynomial completely, If the polynomial is not factorable, write prime.

a) 𝑥 3 + 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 b) 60𝑥 2 𝑦 − 40𝑥𝑦 2 + 72𝑥 3 𝑦

c) 25𝑥 2 − 9 d) 4𝑥 2 − 64

e) 9𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 + 1 f) 25𝑥 2 + 30𝑥 + 9

g) 27𝑦 3 − 𝑥 3 h) 𝑥 2 − 2𝑥 − 8

i) 18𝑎𝑐 − 6𝑎𝑑 + 6𝑏𝑐 − 2𝑏𝑑 j) 6𝑧 2 + 5𝑧 + 1

5) Solve the following.

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a) If 𝑥 2 − 81𝑦 2 = 24 and 𝑥 + 9𝑦 = 6, b) Using factoring and without using

what is the value of 5𝑥 − 45𝑦 ? calculator, find the value of 𝑥 for
which 392 − 192 = 20𝑥.

c) If 𝑥𝑦 = 8, find the value of the

expression (𝑥 + 3𝑦)2 − (𝑥 − 3𝑦)2 .

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