Special Factoring Patterns

Students will be able to

recognize and use special
factoring patterns
 Difference of Squares
• The difference of squares is a perfect
square minus a perfect square, such as
a2 – b 2
• This can be factored into the sum and the
difference of the two square roots, or
(a + b)(a – b)
• So we can factor any polynomial that fits
this pattern as
a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)
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 Perfect Square Trinomial

The other special factoring pattern is called the

perfect square trinomial. Every binomial
multiplied by itself fits this pattern.
1. First term is a perfect square.
2. Last term is a perfect square.
3. Middle term is formed by doubling the
product of the first and last term square
roots.
4. Example: a 2
  or   2 ab  b2

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 Examples

Find the binomial factors for the following, if

possible:
2
2
1. x  10x  25 49x
4.  28x  2
x  5 
2
Cannot be factored
2 2
2
2. 4x  12xy  9y
2
81x
5.  8y
2x  3y 
2
Cannot be factored
2 2 2
3. 9x  36 64x
6.  48xy  9y
3x  63x  6 8x  3y 
2

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