Department of Education

National Capital Region

Division of Taguig City and Pateros
Spring of Virtue Integrated School Inc.

MODULE 4
IN
MATHEMATICS 8
FIRST QUARTER

Unit 1
Algebra

Chapter 1 Factoring
 Lesson 4 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

Prepared by:
Miss Mary Joy C. Buliag
MATHEMATICS Teacher

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials pg. 1
 Unit I
Algebra
Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 3 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomial

Objectives
At the end of the lesson, students must be able to:

 Accurately determine if a trinomial is a perfect square trinomial;

 Correctly factor a perfect square trinomial; and
 Accurately solve word problems involving the factors of a perfect square trinomial.

Learn about it!

Perfect square trinomial – is an algebraic expression that can be written in the form
2 2 2
a ± 2 ab ± b =(a ± b)

Square of a Binomial – an algebraic expression that takes the form (a ± b) ; the factored
2

form of a perfect square trinomial

Note that the first and last terms are squares of a and b respectively (which should always be
positive), and the middle term is positive or negative twice the product of a andb . Hence, in the
factored form, the operation involved depends on the sign of the middle term.
Let us check if the given area (in square meters) in the problem, x 2+ 8 x+ 4 . Does it follow the
pattern for a perfect square trinomial?
In x 2+ 8 x+ 4 , observe that x 2=¿ and 16=¿ To check if it is a perfect square trinomial, the middle
term must be equal to twice the product of x and 4 .
Since 2 ( x )( 4 )=8 x (the middle term), the given expression for the area is a perfect square trinomial.
Factoring the expression, we have
2
x + 8 x+ 4=¿

Let’s Practice
Example 1:
Write n2 −14 n+ 49as the square of a binomial.
Solution:
Step 1:
Check if there is a common monomial factor.
2
n −14 n+ 49 has no common monomial factor.

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials pg. 2
Step 2:
Identify if the given polynomial is a perfect square trinomial.

 The first and last terms are both perfect squares.

2
n =(n)
2
and 49=( 7)
2

 The middle term is negative two times the product of the square roots of the first and
last terms.
−2 ( n ) ( 7 )=−14 n
Step 3:
Use the square root of the first term of the trinomial as the first term of the factor and the
square root of the last term of the trinomial as the second term of the factor. Square the binomial
formed. (Note that the operation involved in the factor depends on the sign of the middle term.)

√ n2=n and √ 49=7

2
(n−7)

Hence, n2 −14 n+ 49=(n−7)2

Example 2
Write 4 p 2+ 36 p+ 81 as the square of a binomial.
2
4 p + 36 p+ 8 1
 Take the square root of both first and last terms.
√ 4 p 2=2 p √ 81=9

 The middle term is twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms.
2 ( 2 p )( 9 )=36 p
Use the square root of the first term of the trinomial as the first term of the factor; use the
square root of the last term of the trinomial as the second term of the factor. Square the binomial
formed.
Note that the middle term is positive (addition) so the operation to be used in the factor is
addition.

√ 4 p 2=2 p √ 81=9

2
4 p + 36 p+ 8 1=(2 p+9)(2 p+9)
2
4 p + 36 p+ 8 1=¿

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials pg. 3
Example 3
Factor completely: 18 x 3+ 60 x 2 +50 x

Solution:
Step 1:
Check if there is a common monomial factor.
3 2 2
18 x + 60 x +50 x=2 x(9 x +30 x +25)

Step 2:
Identify if the trinomial factor is a perfect square.

 Take the square root of both first and last terms.

√ 9 x 2=3 x √ 25=5

 The middle term is twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms.
2 ( 3 x ) ( 5 )=30 x
Use the square root of the first term of the trinomial as the first term of the factor; use the
square root of the last term of the trinomial as the second term of the factor. Square the binomial
formed.
Note that the middle term is positive (addition) so the operation to be used in the factor is
addition.

√ 9 x 2=3 x √ 25=5

3 2 2
18 x + 60 x +50 x=2 x( 9 x +30 x +25)
¿(3 x +5)(3 x+ 5)

¿2 x¿
Hence, 18 x 3+ 60 x 2 +50 x=2 x ¿

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials pg. 4
Example 4
Factor completely: 108 m2 p2−72 m2 p+12 m2

Solution:
Step 1:
Check if there is a common monomial factor.
2 2 2 2 2 2
108 m p −72 m p+12 m =1 2 m (9 p −6 p +1)
Step 2:
Identify if the trinomial factor is a perfect square.

 Take the square root of both first and last terms.

√ 9 p2=3 p √ 1=1

 The middle term is twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms.
2 ( 3 p )( 1 ) =6 p
Use the square root of the first term of the trinomial as the first term of the factor; use the
square root of the last term of the trinomial as the second term of the factor. Square the binomial
formed.
Note that the middle term is negative (subtraction) so the operation to be used in the factor is
subtraction.

√ 9 p2=3 p √ 1=1

2 2 2 2 2 2
108 m p −72 m p+12 m =12 m (9 p −6 p+1)
2
¿ 12 m (3 p−1)(3 p−1)
2
¿ 1 2m ¿

Hence, 108 m2 p2−72 m2 p+12 m2=12 m2 ¿

References:
 Baron, Lorraine, et. al. Math Makes Sense 8. Pearson Education Canada, 2008.
 Mathispower4u. “Factoring a Perfect Square Trinomial”. YouTube video, 7:52, November 2010.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_kxLXFtqHg
 Oronce, Orlando A. & Marilyn O. Mendoza. E-Math 8. Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc., 2019.
 Pierce, Rod. (2018). Special Binomial Products. Math Is Fun. Accessed January 20, 2019 from
http://www.mathsisfun.com/algebra/special-binomial-products.html
 Stapel, Elizabeth. (2018). Perfect-Square Trinomials. Purplemath. Accessed January 20, 2019.
https://www.purplemath.com/modules/specfact3.htm

Chapter 1 Factoring
Lesson 4 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials pg. 5