Factorisation

A4
Definition

Factorisation is extracting the

HCF (numbers and letters) from
an algebraic expression. The
extracted HCF is placed outside
the bracket and the remaining
terms are left inside the
bracket.
Factorise 2x + 2y

What is the HCF? 2

2x + 2y = 2 ( x + y )

Always do a check by multiplying

out the brackets!!!!!
Factorise mn3 + mn

What is the HCF? m n

mn3 + mn = mn ( n2 + 1 )

Always do a check by multiplying

out the brackets!!!!!
Try questions 5, 9 & 10
Exercise 1
Multiply out (x
x + 2)(3x
2 - 5)

= x(3x – 5) + 2(3x - 5)

= 3x2
Multiply out (x
x + 2)(3x
2 - 5)

= x(3x – 5) + 2(3x - 5)

= 3x2 - 5x
Multiply out (x
x + 2)(3x
2 - 5)

= x(3x – 5) + 2(3x - 5)

= 3x2 - 5x + 6x
Multiply out (x
x + 2)(3x
2 - 5)

= x(3x – 5) + 2(3x - 5)

= 3x2 - 5x + 6x - 10
Multiply out (x
x + 2)(3x
2 - 5)

= x(3x – 5) + 2(3x - 5)

= 3x2 - 5x + 6x - 10

= 3x2 + x
Multiply out (x
x + 2)(3x
2 - 5)

= x(3x – 5) + 2(3x - 5)

= 3x2 - 5x + 6x - 10

= 3x2 + x - 10
It is good mathematical practice
when multiplying out write first
the resulting sign, then the
resulting number and finally the
letters in alphabetical order.

SNL
Sign Number Letters
Try questions 3, 8 & 11
Exercise 2
Factorise ax + ay + bx + by

Pair terms that can be factorised

ax + ay bx + by

HCF = a HCF = b
ax + ay bx + by

a (x + y) b (x + y)

What is the HCF? (x + y)

(x + y) ( a + b )
Factorise a + b - ay - by

Pair the terms that enables you

to factorise them

a+b -ay - by

HCF = 1 HCF = -y
a+b -ay - by

1(a + b) -y (a + b)

What is the HCF? (a + b)

(a + b) ( 1 - y )
Try questions 2, 4 & 6
Exercise 4
Definition

Quadratic expressions take

the form
ax2 + bx + c

a, b, c are any numbers and

a cannot be zero (a≠o).
Definition

A quadratic equation is a
quadratic expression with an
equal sign e.g.

x2 + 3x - 2 = 0
2x2 + 5x - 1 = 7
Factorise x2 + 7x + 12

(x ) (x )

How do we work out the numbers

that go inside the bracket?
 Look at x2 + 7x
7 + 12 again

+ 12  Two numbers such that on

multiplication gives +12

+ 7  Same two numbers such

that on addition gives +7
+ 12  Two numbers such that on
multiplication gives +12

+ 7  Same two numbers such

that on addition gives +7

-12, -1 +12, +1 -6, -2

+6, +2 -4, -3 +4, +3

Factorise x2 + 7x + 12

(x + 3) ( x + 4)

In which bracket you throw one

of each number does not matter.
Try questions 3, 10 & 11
Exercise 5
One technique to solve quadratic
equations is to use factorisation.

Consider x2 + 3x + 2 = 0

( x + 1) (x + 2 )= 0
 ( x + 1 ) (x + 2 )= 0

Either (x + 1) = 0 Or (x + 2) = 0
Either x = -1 Or x = -2

Solutions to the quadratic

equation are x = -1, -2
Always check your solutions!!!!!

Now we had x2 + 3x + 2 = 0

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

= 1 -3+2=0

When x = -2 (-2)2 + 3(-2) + 2

= 4-6 +2=0
Try questions 3, 6 & 10
Exercise 6
Finished