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    Common Factoring

    Uploaded by

    Jasem Abdurahman
    Factors

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Common Factoring

    Uploaded by

    Jasem Abdurahman
    25 views2 pages
    Factors

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    Common_Factoring

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    Factors

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    25 views2 pages

    Common Factoring

    Uploaded by

    Jasem Abdurahman
    Factors

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    Common Factoring

    Introduction to Factoring

    Factoring is the OPPOSITE operation of expanding algebraic expressions.


    To factor an algebraic expression means to find the numbers, monomials, binomials or
    polynomials that multiplied together result in the given algebraic expression.

    Common Factoring

    Step 1: Find the greatest common factor of all terms in the algebraic expression. Consider
    the numbers and variables making up each term.
    Step 2: Write the common factor in front of the brackets. In brackets, write the algebraic
    expression resulting from dividing EACH term by the common factor.

    Example 1:
    Factor 16xy2 + 20x2y – 4x3y2.
    Step 1: Find the greatest common factor of 16xy2, 20x2y and 4x3y2.
    Look at the numbers 16, 20 and 4. The greatest common factor of these numbers is 4, since all
    of these numbers can be divided by 4 evenly.
    16 ÷ 4 = 4
    20 ÷ 4 = 5
    4÷4=1
    Look at the variables in each term, xy2, x2y and x3y2. The greatest common factor of these
    variables is xy since all of these terms can be divided by xy evenly.
    xy2 ÷ xy = y
    x2y ÷ xy = x
    x3y2 ÷ xy = x2y
    (Note: the terms are divided according to exponent rules).
    Therefore, the greatest common factor is 4xy.
    Step 2: Write the greatest common factor in front of brackets. Determine the algebraic
    expression in brackets by dividing each term in the given algebraic expression by the greatest
    common factor.

    4xy (16xy2 + 20x2y – 4x3y2)


    4xy 4xy 4xy
    = 4xy (4y + 5x – x2y)

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc


    Common Factoring

    Step 3 (Optional): Double check the answer by expanding 4xy(4y + 5x – x2y). The answer
    should be the algebraic expression that was given in the question.

    4xy(4y + 5x – x2y)
    = 4xy(4y) + 4xy(5x) + 4xy(–x2y)
    = 16xy2 + 20x2y – 4x3y2

    Example 2:
    Factor –144p5q – 12p3 −6p.
    Step 1: Find the greatest common factor of –144p5q, –12p3 and −6p.
    The greatest common factor of –144, –12 and −6 is −6.
    –144 ÷ (−6) = 24
    –12 ÷ (−6) = 2
    −6 ÷ (−6) = 1
    The greatest common factor of p5q, p3 and p is p.
    p5q ÷ p = p4q
    p3 ÷ p = p2
    p÷p=1
    Therefore, the greatest common factor is −6p.
    Step 2: Write the greatest common factor in front of brackets. Determine the algebraic
    expression in brackets by dividing each term in the given algebraic expression by the greatest
    common factor.
    −6p (–144p5q – 12p3 − 6p)
    −6p −6p −6p
    = −6p (24p4q + 2p2 + 1)

    Practice questions:
    Answers:
    1. Factor the following algebraic expressions.
    Check your work by expanding. 1. a) 12k2s2 (2k + s3 –4s)
    a) 24k3s2 + 12k2s5 – 48k2s3 b) 5d3c2(2dc + 10c2 –8d +1)
    b) 10d4c3 + 50d3c4 – 40d4c2 + 5d3c2 c) 2(6x3 + 3x –y)
    c) 12x3 + 6x – 2y d) c2 (81c2 + 1) + 10d
    d) 81c4 + c2 + 10d e) 9qr(4q2 +10q +9)
    e) 36q3r + 90rq2 + 81rq f) 3x2 (x – 2) + 4y(5–y)
    f) 3x3 – 6x2 + 20y – 4y2

    Tutoring and Learning Centre, George Brown College 2014 www.georgebrown.ca/tlc

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