BASILAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Isabela City
Mathematics Department
S.Y. 2020-2021

MODULE FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING (STE) PROGRAM

ELECTIVE MATHEMATICS 9: ADVANCED ALGEBRA
Subject

Quarter: I
Week: 7
Topic: Factoring Polynomials

I – Objectives:
 Factor trinomials where 𝑎 = 1;
 factor trinomials where 𝑎 > 1,
 factor polynomials that are perfect square trinomials and
 factor polynomials that are sum and difference of two cubes.
II – Lesson Proper:
A. Content
 Factoring Trinomials
From a special product discussed in the previous module, we have the formula
𝑥 2 + (𝑎 + 𝑏)𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏 = (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏)
Illustrative Example 1:
The trinomial 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 28 is of the type on the left side of the above formula. It can be
factored into the product of two binomials 𝑥 + 𝑎 and 𝑥 + 𝑏 if there are two integers 𝑎 and 𝑏 such that
𝑎𝑏 = −28 and 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 3. The integers −4 and 7 satisfy these conditions; thus
𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 28 = (𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 7)

Example 2: Factor 𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 + 24.

Solution:
Since this is a trinomial and has no common factor we will use the multiplication pattern
to factor.
First write parentheses under the problem.
2
𝑥 + 11𝑥 + 24
( )( )
We now wish to fill in the terms so that the pattern will give the original trinomial when we
multiply. The first term is easy since we know that (𝑥)(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 .
𝑥2

(𝑥 )(𝑥 )

Remember, the product of the first two terms of the binomials gives the first term of the trinomial

We must now find numbers that multiply to give 24 and at the same time add to give the
middle term. Notice that in each of the following we will have the correct first and last term.
(𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 + 24) = 𝑥 2 + 25𝑥 + 24
(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 12) = 𝑥 2 + 14𝑥 + 24
(𝑥 + 4)(𝑥 + 6) = 𝑥 2 + 10𝑥 + 24
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 8) = 𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 + 24
Only the last product has a middle term of 11x, and the correct solution is
𝑥 2 + 11𝑥 + 24 = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 8)
This method of factoring is called trial and error - for obvious reasons.
Some number facts from arithmetic might be helpful here.
1. The product of two odd numbers is odd.
2. The product of two even numbers is even.
3. The product of an odd and an even number is even.
4. The sum of two odd numbers is even.
5. The sum of two even numbers is even.
6. The sum of an odd and even number is odd.
Therefore, when we factor an expression such as x2 + 11x + 24, we know that the product of
the last two terms in the binomials must be 24, which is even, and their sum must be 11,
which is odd.
Thus, only an odd and an even number will work. We need not even try combinations like 6
and 4 or 2 and 12, and so on.

Example 3: Factor 𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 24.

Solution:
Here the problem is only slightly different. We must find numbers that multiply to give 24
and at the same time add to give − 11. You should always keep the pattern in mind. The last
term is obtained strictly by multiplying, but the middle term comes finally from a sum. Knowing
that the product of two negative numbers is positive, but the sum of two negative numbers is
negative, we obtain
𝑥 2 − 11𝑥 + 24 = (𝑥 − 3)(𝑥 − 8)

Example 4: Factor 𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 24
Solution:
We are here faced with a negative number for the third term, and this makes the task
slightly more difficult. Since −24 can only be the product of a positive number and a negative
number, and since the middle term must come from the sum of these numbers, we must think
in terms of a difference. We must find numbers whose product is 24 and that differ by 5.
Furthermore, the larger number must be negative, because when we add a positive and negative
number the answer will have the sign of the larger. Keeping all of this in mind, we obtain
𝑥 2 − 5𝑥 − 24 = (𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 + 3)

The order of factors is insignificant.

(𝑥 − 8)(𝑥 + 3) = (𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 − 8)
by the commutative law of multiplication.

The following points will help as you factor trinomials:

1. When the sign of the third term is positive, both signs in the factors must be alike-and they
must be like the sign of the middle term.
2. When the sign of the last term is negative, the signs in the factors must be unlike-and the
sign of the larger must be like the sign of the middle term.

In the previous exercise the coefficient of each of the first terms was 1. When the
coefficient of the first term is not 1, the problem of factoring is much more complicated because
the number of possibilities is greatly increased.

The first step in these shortcuts is finding the key number. After you have found the key
number it can be used in more than one way.
In a trinomial to be factored the key number is the product of the coefficients of the first
and third terms.

The product of these two numbers is the "key number."

 Example 1: In 6𝑥 2 − 23𝑥 + 12 the key number is (6)(12) = 72
Example 2: In 5𝑥 2 + 13𝑥 − 6 the key number is (5)(−6) = −30

The first use of the key number involves factoring by grouping is shown in example 3.
Example 3: Use the key number to factor 4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10
Solution
Step 1: Find the key number. In this example (4)(−10) = −40.
Step 2: Find factors of the key number (−40) that will add to give the coefficient of the middle
term (+ 3). In this case ( + 8)( −5) = −40 and ( + 8) + (−5) = +3.
Step 3: Rewrite the original problem by breaking the middle term into the two parts found in
step 2. 8𝑥 − 5𝑥 = 3𝑥, so we may write
4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10 = 4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 5𝑥 − 10

This now becomes a regular factoring by grouping problem.

Step 4: Factor this problem from step 3 by the grouping method.

4𝑥 2 + 8𝑥 − 5𝑥 − 10 = 4𝑥 (𝑥 + 2) − 5(𝑥 + 2)
= (𝑥 + 2)(4𝑥 − 5)

Hence, 4𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10 = (𝑥 + 2)(4𝑥 − 5)

There is only one possible pair of factors that can be obtained from a given trinomial.

Example 4: Factor 3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 8.

Solution:
Key number = −24
Factors of key number that add to give −10 are −12 and 2.
Hence,
3𝑥 2 − 10𝑥 − 8 = 3𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 2𝑥 − 8
= 3𝑥 (𝑥 − 4) + 2(𝑥 − 4)
= (𝑥 − 4)(3𝑥 + 2)

Remember, if step 2 is impossible, the trinomial is prime and cannot be factored.

 Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

One of the special products gives the following formula:
𝑥 2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)2
Note that whenever you are attempting to factor a trinomial that has two perfect square
terms, then this formula applies provided that the other term is twice the product of square
roots of the perfect square terms. Such a trinomial is called a perfect-square trinomial.

Illustrative Example:
The trinomial 16𝑡 2 + 40𝑡 + 25 has two perfect square terms, namely 16𝑡 2 , which is (4𝑡)2 ,
and 25 which is 52 , furthermore the other term is 40𝑡, which is 2(4)(5). Hence, it is a perfect square
trinomial. Thus,
16𝑡 2 + 40𝑡 + 25 = (4𝑡 + 5)2
  Factoring Sum and Difference of Two Cubes
Computing the product of 𝑥 + 𝑦 and 𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 , we get
(𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 ) = 𝑥(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 ) + 𝑦(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )
= 𝑥 3 − 𝑥 2 𝑦 + 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑥 2 𝑦 − 𝑥𝑦 2 + 𝑦 3
= 𝑥3 + 𝑦3
Therefore, we have
𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )
This formula is used to factor the sum of two cubes. To factor the difference of two
cubes we use the formula
𝑥 3 − 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )
which can be verified by computing the product on the right side.

Observe the sign of the factored form. Remember SOAP: Same, Opposite, Always
Positive.

𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )

Same Always Positive

Opposite

𝑥 3 − 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )

Same Always Positive

Opposite

Illustrative Example 1
The binomial 8 − 𝑏3 is the difference of the cubes of 2 and 𝑏. Thus,
8 − 𝑏3 = 23 − 𝑏3
= (𝟐 − 𝒃)(𝟐𝟐 + 𝟐𝒃 + 𝒃𝟐 )

Example 2: Factor the binomial 125𝑥 3 + 𝑦 9

Solution:
The given binomial is the sum of the cubes of 5𝑥 and 𝑦 3. Therefore
125𝑥 3 + 𝑦 9 = (5𝑥 )3 + (𝑦 3 )3
= (5𝑥 + 𝑦 3 )[(5𝑥 )2 − (5𝑥)(𝑦 3 ) + (𝑦 3 )2 ]
= (𝟓𝒙 + 𝒚𝟑 )(𝟐𝟓𝒙𝟐 − 𝟓𝒙𝒚𝟑 + 𝒚𝟔 )
B. Activities
In the following activities, show your answer right away. Do not anymore show the solutions.

Activity 1: What Happens If the Jolly Green Giant Steps on Your House?
For exercises in the first column, express each square as a trinomial. For the remaining
exercises, factor each trinomial as the square of a binomial if possible. (If this is not possible,
the correct answer is “not possible”) Find your answer below. Write the letter of the exercise in
the box containing the number of its answer. (Answer right away)

RUBRICS

CRITERIA Outstanding Satisfactory Developing Beginning

10 points 9 points 8 points 7 points
Correctness of The message 1-2 words are More than 2 The message
the message is clear and missing. words are cannot be
complete. missing. understood.
Neatness and The work is The work is The work is The work
Organization presented in a presented in a presented in a appears sloppy
neat, clear and neat, clear and neat, clear and and
organized organized organized unorganized. It
fashion that is fashion that is fashion but is hard to know
easy to read. usually easy to may be hard to what
read. read at times. information
goes together.
 C. Synthesis

REMEMBER!!!
 Trinomials can be factored by using the trial and error method. This uses the pattern
for multiplication to find factors that will give the original trinomial.

 To factor a perfect square trinomial form a binomial with the square root of the first
term, the square root of the last term, and the sign of the middle term and indicate
the square of this binomial.
 Use the key number as an aid in determining factors whose sum is the coefficient
of the middle term of a trinomial.
 To factor sum and difference of two cubes use the rule
𝑥 3 + 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 + 𝑦)(𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )
𝑥 3 − 𝑦 3 = (𝑥 − 𝑦)(𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 )

III – Assessment
Factor the following trinomials. Show solutions if possible. (2 points each)
1. 𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 32
2. 𝑥 2 + 15𝑥 + 56
3. 𝑥 2 − 6𝑥 − 27
4. 4𝑥 2 + 6𝑥 + 2
5. 3𝑥 2 + 2𝑥 − 8
6. 𝑥3 − 8
7. 8𝑥 3 − 𝑦 6
8. 216𝑥 3 − 64𝑦 9
9. 𝑥 3 + 125
10. 27𝑥 12 + 𝑦 3

IV - References

1. Louis Leithold, College Algebra and Trigonometry: Pearson Education Asia Pte Ltd 2002,
41-49

Prepared by:
JASTINE MAR T. RAMOS
Special Science Teacher I