7-4 Factoring ax++bx

7-4 Factoring ax 2 2
bx++cc

Warm Up
Lesson Presentation
Lesson Quiz

Holt
Holt Algebra 1Algebra 1
McDougal
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c

Warm Up
Find each product.
1. (x – 2)(2x + 7)

Find each trinomial.

2. x2 +4x – 32

Holt McDougal Algebra 1

 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How do you factor quadratic trinomials

of the form ax2 + bx + c ?

Holt McDougal Algebra 1

 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c

When you multiply (3x + 2)(2x + 5), the coefficient

of the x2-term is the product of the coefficients of
the x-terms. Also, the constant term in the trinomial
is the product of the constants in the binomials.

(3x + 2)(2x + 5) = 6x2 + 19x + 10

Holt McDougal Algebra 1

 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 1: Factoring ax2 + bx + c by Guess and Check

Factor 6x2 + 11x + 4 by guess and check.

( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) Write two sets of parentheses.

( x + _)( _ x + _)

The coefficient of the x2 term is 6. The constant term in

the trinomial is 4.
(2x + 4)(3x + 1) = 6x2 + 14x + 4
 Try factors of 6 for the
(1x + 4)(6x + 1) = 6x + 25x + 4
2
coefficients and
(1x + 2)(6x + 2) = 6x + 14x + 4
2
factors of 4 for the
(1x + 1)(6x + 4) = 6x2 + 10x + 4 constant terms.
(3x + 4)(2x + 1) = 6x2 + 11x + 4 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 2
Factor each trinomial by guess and check.
6x2 + 11x + 3

( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) Write two sets of parentheses.

( x + _)( _ x + _)

The coefficient of the x2 term is 6. The constant term in

the trinomial is 3.
(2x + 1)(3x + 3) = 6x2 + 9x + 3  Try factors of 6 for the
(1x + 3)(6x + 1) = 6x2 + 19x + 3 coefficients and
factors of 3 for the
(1x + 1)(6x + 3) = 6x + 9x + 3
2  constant terms.
(3x + 1)(2x + 3) = 6x2 + 11x + 3 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 3
Factor each trinomial by guess and check.
3x2 – 2x – 8
( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) Write two sets of parentheses.
( x + _)( _ x + _)

The coefficient of the x2 term is 3. The constant term in

the trinomial is –8.
(1x – 1)(3x + 8) = 3x2 + 5x – 8  Try factors of 3 for the
 coefficients and
(1x – 4)(3x + 2) = 3x – 10x – 8
2
factors of 8 for the
(1x – 8)(3x + 1) = 3x2 – 23x – 8  constant terms.
(1x – 2)(3x + 4) = 3x2 – 2x – 8 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 4: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
When c is negative
3x2 – 16x + 16
( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) a = 3 and c = 16,
( x + _)( _ x + _) Outer + Inner = –16.
Factors of 3 Factors of 16 Outer + Inner
1 and 3 –1 and –16 1(–16) + 3(–1) = –19 
1 and 3 – 2 and – 8 1( – 8) + 3(–2) = –14 
1 and 3 – 4 and – 4 1( – 4) + 3(– 4)= –16 

(x – 4)(3x – 4) Use the Foil method.

Check (x – 4)(3x – 4) = 3x2 – 4x – 12x + 16
= 3x2 – 16x + 16 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 5
6x + 17x + 5
2

( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) a = 6 and c = 5,
( x + _)( _ x + _) Outer + Inner = 17.

Factors of 6 Factors of 5 Outer + Inner

1 and 6 1 and 5 1(5) + 6(1) = 11 
2 and 3 1 and 5 2(5) + 3(1) = 13 
3 and 2 1 and 5 3(5) + 2(1) = 17 

(3x + 1)(2x + 5) Use the Foil method.

Check (3x + 1)(2x + 5) = 6x2 + 15x + 2x + 5
= 6x2 + 17x + 5 

Holt McDougal Algebra 1

 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 6
9x2 – 15x + 4
( _ + _ )( _ +_) a = 9 and c = 4,
( x + _)( _ x + _) Outer + Inner = –15.

Factors of 9 Factors of 4 Outer + Inner

3 and 3 –1 and – 4 3(–4) + 3(–1) = –15 
3 and 3 – 2 and – 2 3(–2) + 3(–2) = –12 
3 and 3 – 4 and – 1 3(–1) + 3(– 4)= –15

(3x – 4)(3x – 1) Use the Foil method.

Check (3x – 4)(3x – 1) = 9x2 – 3x – 12x + 4
= 9x2 – 15x + 4

Holt McDougal Algebra 1

 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example 7
3x2 + 13x + 12
a = 3 and c = 12,
( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) Outer + Inner = 13.
( x + _)( _ x + _)

Factors of 3 Factors of 12 Outer + Inner

1 and 3 1 and 12 1(12) + 3(1) = 15
1 and 3 2 and 6 1(6) + 3(2) = 12 
1 and 3 3 and 4 1(4) + 3(3) = 13 

(x + 3)(3x + 4) Use the Foil method.

Check (x + 3)(3x + 4) = 3x2 + 4x + 9x + 12
= 3x2 + 13x + 12 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
When c is Negative
3n2 + 11n – 4
( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) a = 3 and c = – 4,
( x + _)( _ x + _) Outer + Inner = 11 .

Factors of 3 Factors of –4 Outer + Inner

1 and 3 –1 and 4 1(4) + 3(–1) = 1 
1 and 3 –2 and 2 1(2) + 3(–2) = – 4 
1 and 3 –4 and 1 1(1) + 3(–4) = –11
1 and 3 4 and –1 1(–1) + 3(4) = 11

(n + 4)(3n – 1) Use the Foil method.

Check (n + 4)(3n – 1) = 3n2 – n + 12n – 4
= 3n2 + 11n – 4 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
When b & c are Negative
4x2 – 15x – 4
( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) a = 4 and c = –4,
( x + _)( _ x + _) Outer + Inner = –15.

Factors of 4 Factors of – 4 Outer + Inner

1 and 4 –1 and 4 1(4) + 4(–1) = 0 
1 and 4 –2 and 2 1(2) + 4(–2) = –6 
1 and 4 –4 and 1 1(1) + 4(–4) = –15 

(x – 4)(4x + 1) Use the Foil method.

Check (x – 4)(4x + 1) = 4x2 + x – 16x – 4

= 4x2 – 15x – 4 
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example
4n2 – n – 3
( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) a = 4 and c = –3,
( x + _)( _ x + _) Outer + Inner = –1.

Factors of 4 Factors of –3 Outer + Inner

1 and 4 1 and –3 1(–3) + 4(1) = 1 
1 and 4 –1 and 3 1(3) – 4(1) = – 1

(4n + 3)(n – 1) Use the Foil method.

Check (4n + 3)(n – 1) = 4n2 – 4n + 3n – 3
= 4n2 – n – 3
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
When a is Negative
–2x2 + 7x - 3.
(_ x + )(_ x+ ) Now: a = 2 and c = -3;

Outer + Inner = 5
Factors of -2 Factors of -3 Outer + Inner

1 and -2 3 and -1 -1(1) + 3(-2) = -7

1 and -2 -3 and 1 1(1) + -2(-3) = 7

(x - 3)(-2x + 1)

ANS: (x - 3)(-2x + 1)
Holt McDougal Algebra 1
 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Example
–6x – 17x – 12
2

( _ + _ )( _ + _ ) Factor out –1.

-1( x + _)( _ x + _) a = 6 and c = 12;
Everything positive!
–1(6x2 + 17x + 12)

Factors of 6 Factors of 12 Outer + Inner

2 and 3 4 and 3 2(3) + 3(4) = 18 

2 and 3 3 and 4 2(4) + 3(3) = 17

(2x + 3)(3x + 4)
–1(2x + 3)(3x + 4)

Holt McDougal Algebra 1

 7-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Lesson Quiz

Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.

1. 5x2 + 17x + 6 (5x + 2)(x + 3)

2. 2x2 + 5x – 12 (2x– 3)(x + 4)

3. 6x2 – 23x + 7 (3x – 1)(2x – 7)

4. –4x2 + 11x + 20 (–x + 4)(4x + 5)

Holt McDougal Algebra 1