P Prerequisites

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 Last Lecture Objectives

 Write polynomials in standard form.

 Add, subtract, and multiply polynomials.

 Use special products to multiply polynomials.

 Use polynomials to solve real-life problems.

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P.4 Factoring Polynomials

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 Objectives

 Remove common factors from polynomials.

 Factor special polynomial forms.

 Factor trinomials as the product of two binomials.

 Factor polynomials by grouping.

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Polynomials with Common Factors
 Polynomials with Common Factors

The process of writing a polynomial as a product is called factoring. It is an

important tool for solving equations and for simplifying rational expressions.

Unless noted otherwise, when you are asked to factor a polynomial, you can
assume that you are looking for factors that have integer coefficients. If a
polynomial does not factor using integer coefficients, then it is prime or
irreducible over the integers.

For instance, the polynomial x 2 – 3 is irreducible over the integers.

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 Polynomials with Common Factors

Over the real numbers, this polynomial factors as

x 2 – 3 = (x + )(3x – ).
A polynomial is completely factored when each of its
factors is prime. For instance
x3 – x2 + 4x – 4 = (x – 1)(x2 + 4) Completely factored

is completely factored, but

x3 – x2 – 4x + 4 = (x – 1)(x2 – 4) Not completely factored

is not completely factored. Its complete factorization is

x3 – x2 – 4x + 4 = (x – 1)(x + 2)(x – 2).
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 Polynomials with Common Factors

The simplest type of factoring involves a polynomial that can be written as the
product of a monomial and another polynomial.

The technique used here is the Distributive Property, a(b + c) = ab + ac, in the
reverse direction.

ab + ac = a(b + c) a is a common factor.

Removing (factoring out) any common factors is the first step in completely
factoring a polynomial.

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 Example 1 – Removing Common Factors

Factor each expression.

a. 6x3 – 4x

b. –4x 2 + 12x – 16

c. (x – 2)(2x) + (x – 2)(3)

Solution:
a. 6x – 4x = 2x(3x ) – 2x(2)
3 2 2x is a common factor.

= 2x(3x 2 – 2)

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 Example 1 – Solution
cont’d

b. –4x2+ 12x – 16
= –4(x ) + (–4)(–3x) + (–4)4
2 –4 is a common factor.

= –4(x 2 –3x + 4)

c. (x – 2)(2x) + (x – 2)(3)
= (x – 2)(2x + 3) (x – 2) is a common factor.

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Practice 0.20

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Factoring Special Polynomial Forms
 Factoring Special Polynomial Forms

Some polynomials have special forms that arise from the special product forms.
You should learn to recognize these forms.

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 Factoring Special Polynomial Forms

The factored form of a difference of two squares is always a set of conjugate

pairs.

u2 – v 2 = (u + v) (u – v)
Conjugate pairs

Difference Opposite signs

To recognize perfect square terms, look for coefficients that are squares of
integers and variables raised to even powers.

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Example 2 – Removing Common Factors

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 Example 3 – Factoring the Difference of Two Squares

a. (x + 2)2 – y2 = [(x + 2) + y][(x + 2) – y]

= (x + 2 + y)(x + 2 – y)

b. 16x4 – 81 = (4x2)2 – 92

= (4x2 + 9)(4x2 – 9)
Difference of two squares

= 2
(4x + 9)[(2x)2 – 2
3]

= (4x 2 + 9)(2x + 3)(2x – 3)

Difference of two squares

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 Factoring Special Polynomial Forms

A perfect square trinomial is the square of a binomial, and it has the following
form.

u2 + 2uv + v 2 = (u + v) 2 or u2 – 2uv + v 2 = (u – v) 2

Like signs Like signs

Note that the first and last terms are squares and the middle term is twice the
product of u and v.

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Example 4 – Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

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 Factoring Special Polynomial Forms

The next two formulas show the sums and differences of cubes. Pay special
attention to the signs of the terms.
Like signs

u3 + v3 = (u + v) (u2 – uv + 2
v)

Unlike signs
Like signs

u3 – v 3 = (u – v)(u2 + uv + 2
v)

Unike signs

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Example 5 – Factoring the Difference of Cubes

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Example 6 – Factoring the Sum of Cubes

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Practice 0.21

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Trinomials with Binomial Factors
 Trinomials with Binomial Factors

To factor a trinomial of the form ax2 + bx + c, use the following pattern.

Factors of a

ax 2 + bx + c =

Factors of c

The goal is to find a combination of factors of a and c such that the outer and
inner products add up to the middle term bx.

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 Trinomials with Binomial Factors

For instance, in the trinomial 6x2

+ 17x + 5, you can write all possible
factorizations and determine which one has outer and inner products that add up
to 17x.

(6x + 5)(x + 1), (6x + 1)(x + 5), (2x + 1)(3x + 5), (2x + 5)(3x + 1)

You can see that (2x + 5)(3x + 1) is the correct factorization because the outer
(O) and inner (I) products add up to 17x.

(2x + 5)(3x + 1) = 6x 2 + 2x + 15x + 5 = 6x 2 + 17x + 5

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 Example 7 – Factoring a Trinomial: Leading Coefficient Is 1

Factor x2 – 7x + 12.

Solution:
For this trinomial, you have a = 1, b = –7, c = 12. Because b is negative and c is
positive, both factors of 12 must be negative. So, the possible factorizations of x2

– 7x + 12 are

(x – 2)(x – 6), (x – 1)(x – 12), and (x – 3)(x – 4).

Testing the middle term, you will find the correct factorization to be

x2 – 7x + 12 = (x – 3)(x – 4).

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Example 8 – Factoring a Trinomial: Leading Coefficient Is Not 1

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Practice 0.22

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Factoring by Grouping
 Example 9 – Factoring by Grouping

Sometimes, polynomials with more than three terms can be factoring by

grouping.

x3 – 2x2 – 3x + 6 = (x3 – 2
2x ) – (3x – 6) Group terms.

= x2(x – 2) – 3(x – 2) Factor each group.

= (x – 2)(x 2 – 3) Distributive Property

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Example 10 – Factoring a Trinomial by Grouping

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 Factoring by Grouping

Factoring by grouping can save you some of the trial and error involved in
factoring a trinomial.

To factor a trinomial of the form

ax 2 + bx + c by grouping, rewrite the middle term
using the sum of two factors of the product ac that add up to b.

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Practice 0.23

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Assignment
 Assignment 0.7

 P(39,40) in the Textbook Exercises:

 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, 20, 23 ,26, 31, 36, 38, 42, 49, 55, 65, 78, 84.

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