Lesson 3

Factoring Quadratic Trinomials

and Special Products
 Factoring Quadratic Trinomials
• A quadratic trinomial is a polynomial with three terms and with a
degree of two.

The polynomial x2 +rx +sx + rs is generally characterized as a

quadratic polynomial since it has a degree of 2.
x2 +rx +sx + rs = (x2 + rx) + (sx + rs)
= x(x + r) + s(x + r)
= (x + r)(x + s)
 Furthermore, by substituting values to r and s, we can simplify
the polynomial and get three terms. As an example, let us substitute
the values r = 2 and s = 3.
x2 + rx + sx + rs
= x2 + (2)x + (3)x + (2)(3)
= x2 +5x + 6
We can conclude now that a quadratic trinomial, with a leading
coefficient of 1 in the form:
x2 + (r+s)x + rs
= (x + r) (x + s)
Example 1: x2 + 10x + 21
Observe the third term 21, find the factors of 21 and check if they
have a sum of the middle term 10.
1 and 21 = 1 + 21 = 22
7 and 3 = 100
A sum of 10 is given by factors 7 and 3
x2 + (7 + 3)x + (7)(3)
= (x + 7) (x + 3)

Thus, the factors of x2 +10x + 21 are (x + 7) (x + 3)

Example 2: x2 - 12x + 32
In this case, the third term is 32. Find the factors that will have a
sum of -12.
1 and 32 = 1 + 32 = 33 -1 and -32 = -1 - 32 = -33
2 and 16 = 2 + 16 = 18 -2 and -16 = -2 - 16 = -18
4 and 8 = 4 + 8 = 12 -4 and -8 = -4 - 8 = -12
A pair of factors -4 and -8 has a sum of -12
x2 +(-4 - 8)x + (-4)(-8)
= (x - 4) (x -8)
Thus, the factors of x2 - 12x + 32 are (x - 4) (x -8)
Example 3: x2 + 12x - 28
= x2 + (-2 + 14)x - (-2)(14)
= (x - 2)(x + 14)

Example 4: x2 - 9x -36
= x2 + (3 -12)x - (3)(-12)
= (x + 3) (x - 12)
 We will now discuss quadratic trinomials of the form.
ax2 + bx + c where a,b and c are real numbers, and a ≠ 1.

Let us take a product of binomials in the form (mx + r)(nx + s).

By multiplying these factors, we will obtain mnx2 + (ms + nr) x+

rs where m and n are real numbers, and mn ≠ 1.
 By referring to ax2 + bx + c, where a,b and c are real
numbers, and a ≠ 1, we can say that:
a.) a = mn,means that the leading coefficient a is the
product of the coefficients of the binomials’ first terms m and
n.
b.) b = ms + nr, means that the middle coefficient b is the
sum of the products of ms and nr.
c.) c = rs, means that the third term is the product of the
second terms of the binomials.
Example 1: 12x2 + 20x + 3

Factors of 12 Factors of 3

1, 12

2, 6 1, 3

3, 4
 After determining these factors, fin out the possible factors of the
trinomial through the trial and error method. The following are possible
factors of 12x2 + 20x + 3.
(x + 1) (12x + 3) (2x + 1) (6x + 3) (3x + 1)(4x + 3)
(x + 3) (12x + 1) (2x + 3) (6x + 1) (3x + 3) (4x +1)
Determine which pair of factors will give a middle term of 20. By
multiplying each pair, we find out that (2x + 3) (6x + 1) are the factors of
12x2 + 20x + 3.
Example 2: 8x2 - 34x - 9
Factors of 8 Factors of -9

1, 8 1, -9

-1, -8 -1, 9
2, 4 3, -3
-2, -4 -3, 3

From this list of factors, the factors that will give a middle
term of -34 is the pair (4x + 1)(2x -9).
Hence, the factor form of 8x2 - 34x - 9 is (4x + 1)(2x -9).
 AC Method
The AC Method refers to the product of the leading coefficient a
and the last term c. To get the factored form of the polynomial using
ac method:
(a) get the product of the first coefficients a and last coefficient c, the
sum of the factors of a and c must be the second coefficient.
(b) rewrite the middle term as the sum of the factors of ac;
(c) group the first two and last two terms of the rewritten trinomial;
(d) factor the GCF of each group; then
(e) obtain the factors of the trinomial.
Example 1: 12x2 + 20x + 3
Factors of 36 Sum of the Factors

1, 36 37
2, 18 20
3, 12 15
4, 9 13

12x2 + 20x + 3 = 12x2 + 2x + 18x + 3

= (12x2 + 2x) + (18x + 3)
= 2x(6x + 1) + 3(6x + 1)
= (2x + 3) (6x +1)
Example 2: 8x2 - 34x - 9
Take the product of 8 and -9, which is -72. Then, find the factors of -72 that
gives a sum 0f -34.
Factors of -72 Sum of the Factors
1, -72 -71
-1, 72 71
2, -36 -34
-2, 36 34
3, -24 -21
-3, 24 21
4, -18 -14
-4, 18 14
6, -12 -6
-6. 12 6
8, -9 -1
-8, 9 1
 As we can see, the factors that give a sum of -34 are 2
and -36. Now, rewrite the middle term of 8x2 - 34x -9 as a
sum of the two factors 2 and -36.
8x2 - 34x -9
=8x2 +2x -36x -9
=(8x2 +2x) + (-36x -9)
= 2x(4x + 1) - 9(4x +1)
=(2x -9)(4x +1)
 FACTORING SPECIAL PRODUCTS
Perfect Square Trinomials
Recall how the special product and its factors are written in general form.
Form of Special Product Form of its Factor/s

a2x2m + 2abxnym + b2y2n (axm + byn)2

a2x2m - 2abxn + b2y2n (axm + byn)2

To check if the given is a perfect square trinomial, check if the following

characteristics apply:
a. The first and last terms are perfect squares.
b. The second term should be twice the product of the square roots of the first
and last term.
Example 1:
4x2 + 12x + 9
(a) first term: 4x2 (This is a perfect square. = 2x)
last term: 9 (9 is also a perfect square. = 3)
(b) middle term: 12x (This is twice the product of the square root
of 2x and 3. 2(2x 3) = 2(6x) = 12x)
Thus, the factor of 4x2 + 12x + 9 is (2x + 3)2
Example 2:
25x4 - 20x2 + 4
= 5x2
=2
2(5x2 2) 2(10x2) = 20x2
Thus, the factor of 25x4 - 20x2 + 4 is (5x2 - 2)2
 Difference of Two Squares

Form of Special Product Form of its Factor(s)

ax2x2m - b2y2n (axm - byn)(axm + byn)

To check of the given is difference of two squares, check if the

first and second term is a perfect square. Then, write down the
factors and sum and difference of two square roots of each term.
Example 1:
9x2 - 25
(a) first term: 9x2 (This is a perfect square. = 3x
(b) second term: 25 (25 is a also a perfect square. = 5)
Thus, the factor of 9x2 - 25 is (3x + 5)(3x - 5)
Example 2:
x6 - y10
= x6÷2
= x3
= x10÷ 2
= x5 Thus, the factor of x6 - y10 is (x3 + y5)(x3 - y5)
 Sum and Difference of Two Cubes
Form of Special Product Form of its Factor(s)
a3x3m - b3y3n (axm - byn)(a2x2m + abxmyn +b2y2n)
a3x3m + b3y3n (axm + byn)(a2x2m - abxmyn +b2y2n)

To check if the given is a sum and difference of two cubes, check if the first
and second terms are perfect cubes. After confirming these qualities, we can
now compose the factors for the expression. The factor is compose the factors
of the expression,
(a) First, write the binomial of the factor. The first and second factor terms are
the roots of the expression.
(b) Then, write the trinomial of the factor. The first and last terms of the
trinomial are the square of the roots. The middle term is negative product of the
roots.
Example 1:
8x3 - 27
(a) first term: 8x3 (This is a perfect cube. = 2x)
(b) second term : 27 (27 is also a perfect cube. = -3)
8x3 - 27 = (2x - 3)[(2x)2 - (2x)(-3) + (-3)2]
= (2x - 3) (4x2 + 6x + 9)
Thus, the factor of 8x3 - 27 is (2x - 3)(4x2 + 6x + 9)
Example 2:
x9 + 125y3
= +
= x3 + 5y
= (x3 + 5y) [(x3)2 - (x3)(5y) + (5y)2]
= (x3 + 5y) (x6 - 5x3y + 25y2)
Thus, the factor of x9 + 125y3 is (x3 + 5y) (x6 - 5x3y + 25y2)