Objective

The student will be able to:

factor perfect square trinomials.

SOL: A.2c

Designed by Skip Tyler, Varina High School

 Factoring Chart
This chart will help you to determine
which method of factoring to use.
Type Number of Terms
1. GCF 2 or more
2. Diff. Of Squares 2
3. Trinomials 3
Review: Multiply (y + 2) 2

Do you remember these?

(y + 2)(y + 2) (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
(a - b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2

First terms: y2
Using the formula,
Outer terms: +2y (y + 2)2 = (y)2 + 2(y)(2) + (2)2
Inner terms: +2y (y + 2) 2
= y 2
+ 4y + 4
Last terms: +4 Which one is quicker?
Combine like terms.
y2 + 4y + 4
 1) Factor x2 + 6x + 9
Does this fit the form of our Perfect Square Trinomials
perfect square trinomial? (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
1) Is the first term a perfect (a - b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2
square?
Yes, a = x Since all three are true,
2) Is the last term a perfect write your answer!
square? (x + 3)2
Yes, b = 3
3) Is the middle term twice the
You can still
product of the a and b? factor the other way
Yes, 2ab = 2(x)(3) = 6x but this is quicker!
 2) Factor y2 – 16y + 64
Does this fit the form of our Perfect Square Trinomials
perfect square trinomial? (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
1) Is the first term a perfect (a - b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2
square?
Yes, a = y Since all three are true,
2) Is the last term a perfect write your answer!
square? (y – 8)2
Yes, b = 8
3) Is the middle term twice the
product of the a and b?
Yes, 2ab = 2(y)(8) = 16y
 Factor m – 12m + 36
2

1. (m – 6)(m + 6)
2. (m – 6)2
3. (m + 6)2
4. (m – 18)2
 3) Factor 4p2 + 4p + 1
Does this fit the form of our Perfect Square Trinomials
perfect square trinomial? (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
1) Is the first term a perfect (a - b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2
square?
Yes, a = 2p Since all three are true,
2) Is the last term a perfect write your answer!
square? (2p + 1)2
Yes, b = 1
3) Is the middle term twice the
product of the a and b?
Yes, 2ab = 2(2p)(1) = 4p
 4) Factor 25x2 – 110xy + 121y2
Does this fit the form of our
Perfect Square Trinomials
perfect square trinomial? (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
1) Is the first term a perfect (a - b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2
square?
Yes, a = 5x Since all three are true,
2) Is the last term a perfect write your answer!
square? (5x – 11y)2
Yes, b = 11y
3) Is the middle term twice the
product of the a and b?
Yes, 2ab = 2(5x)(11y) = 110xy
 Factor 9k + 12k + 4
2

1. (3k + 2)2
2. (3k – 2)2
3. (3k + 2)(3k – 2)
4. I’ve got no clue…
I’m lost!
 Factor 2r + 12r + 18
2

1. prime
2. 2(r2 + 6r + 9)
3. 2(r – 3)2
4. 2(r + 3)2
5. 2(r – 3)(r + 3)
Don’t forget to factor the
GCF first!