Topic: Algebra

Sub-topic: Factorizing
using Distributive Law
Introduction

Instruction: Removing the brackets using the distributive law in

each of the following:

1. 3(a + b)

2. -7(i + j)
Defi ning Algebraic Expression

A collection of letters (called variables) and numbers (called constant) combined

using the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Examples of algebraic expressions:

4x + 2, 7s -8s, 5x + 3y
Defi ning a Term

A term is either a single number or a variable, or numbers and variables

multiplied together.

An expression is a group of terms.

 Distributive Law

The distributive law can be applied both to insert and remove brackets in algebraic
expression. The Distributive property states that:

(a + b) x = ax + bx.

Multiply the term outside the brackets by Every term inside the brackets.

This is called expanding the expression. Expanding a product has the effect of removing
brackets.
Factor

A factor of a number is a whole number that divides it exactly, leaving a

remainder of zero.

E.g. 1, 2, 5 and 10 are factors of 10.

Common Factor

Common factor is a number that divides two or more

numbers with a remainder zero.

E.g. Factors of 12 and 6

Factors of 12:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Factors of 16: 1, 2, 4, 8,16

1, 2, 4 are common factors

Highest Common Factor (HCF)

The highest common factor or greatest common factor of two or more

numbers is the largest factor by which you can divide both numbers.

4 is the greatest common factor of 16 and 20.

Factorization

Factoring or Factorization means to write a number or expression as a

product of their factors.

Factoring can also be considered as “reversing” the Distributive law.

Factorizing using the Distributive Law

Given
ax + ay
[Note: a is common to both terms]

Hence, by the distributive law: a x + a y = a ( x + y)

where a and x + y are factors of a x + a y .

Steps to Factorizing using Distributive
Law

Step 1: Find the Highest common factor of all the coefficients of the
algebraic expression.

Step 2: Rewrite each term as a product using the common factor.

Step 3: Use the “reverse” Distributive Law to factor the expression.

Step 4. Check by multiplying the factors

Example

Factorize each of the following algebraic expressions:

1. 6x + 6y

2. 144x + 12

3. 25x - 10
Solutions
Using the four steps of factorizing using Distributive Property,

Step #1: Find the HCF of the Coeffi cient.

6y + 6x, the HCF is 6.

Step # 2: Rewrite each term as a product using the common factor.

6 x y + 6 x x

Step # 3: Use the “reverse” Distributive Law to factor the expression.

6 x y + 6 x x

Factor out the 6 as common factor

6(y + x)

Step # 4:Check by multiplying the factors

6 (y + x) = 6y + 6x
 Solution # 2

U s i n g t h e f o u r s t e p s o f f a c t o r i z i n g u s i n g D i s t r i b u t i v e P r o p e r t y,

S t e p # 1 : F i n d t h e H C F o f t h e C o e ffi c i e n t .

144x + 12, the HCF is 12.

S t e p # 2 : R e w r i t e e a c h t e r m a s a p r o d u c t u s i n g t h e c o m m o n f a c t o r.

12 x 12 x + 12 x 1

Step # 3: Use the “reverse” Distributive Law to factor the expression.

12 x 12 x + 12 x 1

Fa c t o r o u t t h e 1 2 a s c o m m o n f a c t o r

12(12x + 1)

Step # 4: Check by multiplying the factors

12(12x + 1) = 144x + 12
Practice Problems

Instructions: Factorize the following algebraic expression using

Distributive Law on Page 243 Exercise 6g. Do # 1 to 20.