Chapter 5

Polynomials
and Polynomial
Functions

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 Chapter Sections
5.1 – Addition and Subtraction of Polynomials
5.2 – Multiplication of Polynomials
5.3 – Division of Polynomials and Synthetic
Division
5.4 – Factoring a Monomial from a Polynomial
and Factoring by Grouping
5.5 – Factoring Trinomials
5.6 – Special Factoring Formulas
5.7-A General Review of Factoring
5.8- Polynomial Equations
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§ 5.6

Special Factoring
Formulas

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Difference of Two Squares

a2 – b2 = (a + b) (a – b)

Example:
a.) Factor x2 – 16.
x2 – 16 = x2 – 42 = (x + 4)(x – 4)

b.) Factor 25x2 – 36y2.

25x2 – 36y2 = (5x)2 – (6y)2 =
(5x + 6y)(5x – 6y)

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Factor Perfect Square Trinomials

a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2
a2 – 2ab + b2 = (a – b)2
Example:
a.) Factor x2 – 8x + 16.
To determine whether this is a perfect
square trinomial, take twice the product of
x and 4 to see if you obtain 8x.
2(x)(4) = 8x
x2 – 8x + 16 = (x – 4)2
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 Sum of Two Cubes

a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2)

Example:
a.) Factor the sum of cubes x3 + 64.
a 3  b 3  (a  b)(a 2  ab  b 2 )
x 3  43  ( x  4)[ x 2  x(4)  4 2 ]
 ( x  4)( x  4 x  16)
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 Difference of Two Cubes

a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + ab + b2)

Example:
a.) Factor 27x3 – 8y6.
27 x  8 y  (3 x)  (2 y )
3 6 3 2 3

 (3 x  2 y )[(3 x)  (3 x)(2 y )  (2 y ) ]
2 2 2 2 2

 (3 x  2 y )(9 x  6 xy  4 y )
2 2 2 4

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 Helpful Hint for Factoring
When factoring the sum or difference of two cubes, the sign
between the terms in the binomial factor will be the same as the
sign between the terms.
The sign of the ab term will be the opposite of the sign between
the terms of the binomial factor.
The last term in the trinomial will always be positive.
a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2)
same sign
always positive
opposite sign
a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + ab + b2)
same sign
opposite sign always positive
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