Factoring Polynomials Grade 10

Factoring and Finding Roots of
Polynomials
Polynomials
A Polynomial Expression can be a monomial or a

sum of monomials. The Polynomial Expressions
that we are discussing today are in terms of one
variable.
In a Polynomial Equation, two

polynomials are set equal to each other.
Factoring Polynomials
Terms are Factors of a Polynomial if, when they

are multiplied, they equal that polynomial:
x  2 x  15  ( x  3)( x  5)
2
 (x - 3) and (x + 5) are Factors

of the polynomial
x  2 x  15
2
Since Factors are a Product...
…and the only way a product can equal zero

is if one or more of the factors are zero…
…then the only way the polynomial can

equal zero is if one or more of the factors are
zero.
Solving a Polynomial Equation
Rearrange the terms to have zero on one side:

x  2 x  15  x  2 x  15  0
2 2
Factor:
( x  5)( x  3)  0
Set each factor equal to zero and solve:

( x  5)  0 and ( x  3)  0
x  5 x 3
The only way that x2 +2x - 15 can = 0 is if x = -5 or x = 3

Solutions/Roots a Polynomial
Setting the Factors of a Polynomial

Expression equal to zero gives the
Solutions to the Equation when the
polynomial expression equals zero.
Another name for the Solutions of a
Polynomial is the Roots of a
Polynomial !
Zeros of a Polynomial Function
A Polynomial Function is usually written in

function notation or in terms of x and y.
2 2
f (x)  x  2x  15 or y  x  2x  15
The Zeros of a Polynomial Function are the

solutions to the equation you get when you
set the polynomial equal to zero.
Zeros of a Polynomial Function
The Zeros of a Polynomial

Function ARE the Solutions to
the Polynomial Equation
when the polynomial equals
zero.
Graph of a Polynomial Function
Here is the graph of our

polynomial function:
2
y  x  2x  15
The Zeros of the Polynomial are the values of x

when the polynomial equals zero. In other words,
the Zeros are the x-values where y equals zero.
x-Intercepts of a Polynomial
The points where y = 0 are

called the x-intercepts of the
graph.
The x-intercepts for our graph

are the points... y  x 2  2x  15
(-5, 0) and (3, 0)

x-Intercepts of a Polynomial
When the Factors of a Polynomial

Expression are set equal to zero, we get
the Solutions or Roots of the Polynomial
Equation.
The Solutions/Roots of the Polynomial
Equation are the x-coordinates for the
x-Intercepts of the Polynomial Graph!
Factors, Roots, Zeros
For our Polynomial Function:

2
y  x  2x  15
The Factors are: (x + 5) & (x - 3)

The Roots/Solutions are: x = -5 and 3
The Zeros are at: (-5, 0) and (3, 0)
Factoring a polynomial
means expressing it as
a product of other
polynomials.
Factoring Method #1
Factoring polynomials with a
common monomial factor
(using GCF).
**Always look for a GCF before
using any other factoring
method.
Steps
1. Find the greatest common factor
(GCF).
2. Divide the polynomial by the GCF.
The quotient is the other factor.
3. Express the polynomial as the
product of the quotient and the GCF.
Example : 6c d  12c d  3cd
3 2 2
Step 1: GCF  3cd

Step 2: Divide by GCF
3 2 2
(6c d  12c d  3cd)  3cd 
2
2c  4cd  1
The answer should look like this:
3 2 2
Ex: 6c d 12c d  3cd
2
 3cd(2c  4cd  1)
Factoring Method #2
Factoring polynomials that are a

difference of squares.
A “Difference of Squares” is a
binomial (*2 terms only*) and
it factors like this:
2 2
a  b  (a  b)(a  b)
To factor, express each term as a
square of a monomial then apply
2 2
the rule... a  b  (a  b)(a  b)
2
Ex: x 16 
2 2
x 4 
(x  4)(x  4)
Here is another
example:
1 2
x  81 
49
2
1 x  92  1 x  91 x  9
7  7 7 
Factoring Method #3
Factoring a trinomial in the
form: 2
ax  bx  c
2
Factoring a ax  bx  c
trinomial:
1. Write two sets of parenthesis, ( )( ).
These will be the factors of the
trinomial.
2. Product of first terms of both binomials

must equal first term of the trinomial.
2
( ax )
2
Factoring a ax  bx  c
trinomial:
3. The product of last terms of both
binomials must equal last term of the
trinomial (c).
4. Think of the FOIL method of
multiplying binomials, the sum of the
outer and the inner products must
equal the middle term (bx).
Example : x  6x  8
2
2
x  x  x x  x
x -2
x -4  O + I = bx ?
1x + 8x = 9x
Factors of +8: 1&8
2x + 4x = 6x
2&4
-1x - 8x = -9x
-1 & -8
-2x - 4x = -6x
-2 & -4
x  6x  8  (x  2)(x  4)
2
Check your answer by

using FOIL
F O I L
2
(x  2)(x  4)  x  4x  2x  8
2
 x  6x  8
Lets do another example:
2
6x 12x 18
Don’t Forget Method #1.
Always check for GCF before you do anything else.
2
6(x  2x  3) Find a GCF
6(x  3)(x 1) Factor trinomial

When a>1 and c<1, there may
be more combinations to try!
Example : 6 x  13x  5
2
Step 1:
2
3x  2x
Find the factors of 6x :
6x  x
Example : 6 x  13 x  5
2
Step 2: Find the factors of -5:

5 -1
-5 1 Order can make
a difference!
 -1 5 
 
 1 -5 
Example : 6 x  13 x  5
2
Step 3: Place the factors inside the

parenthesis until O + I = bx.
Try: 6x  1x  5
F O I L
2
6x  30x  x  5 This
O + I = 30 x - x = doesn’t
29x work!!
Example : 6 x  13 x  5
2
Switch the order of the second terms

and try again.
6x  5x  1
F O I L
2
6x  6x  5x  5 This
O + I = -6x + 5x = - doesn’t
x work!!
Try another combination:
Switch to 3x and 2x
(3x 1)(2x  5)
F O I L
2
6x  15x  2x  5
O+I = 15x - 2x = 13x IT WORKS!!
6x  13x  5  (3x 1)(2x  5)

2
Factoring Technique #4
THE QUADRATIC FORMULA
 b  b  4ac
2
x
2a
Solve using the quadratic formula.
3x 2  7 x  2  0
7  25
x
a  3, b  7, c  2 6
 b  b 2  4ac 75
x x
2a 6
 (7)  (7)  4(3)( 2)
2
12 2
x x x
2(3) 6 6
7  49  24 1
x x  2,
6 3
Factoring Technique #5
Factoring By Grouping
for polynomials
with 4 or more terms
Factoring By Grouping
1. Group the first set of terms and
last set of terms with parentheses.
2. Factor out the GCF from each group
so that both sets of parentheses
contain the same factors.
3. Factor out the GCF again (the GCF
is the factor from step 2).
3 2
Example 1:
b  3b  4 b  12
Step 1: Group
 b  3b
3 2
 4b  12 
Step 2: Factor out GCF from each group
 b b  3  4b  3
2
Step 3: Factor out GCF

again  b  3 b 2
  4
2 x  16 x  8 x  64
3 2
Example 2:
 2x  8x  4x  32 
3 2

 2 x  8x  4x  32
3 2

 2x x  8  4x  8
2

 2 x  8x  4 
2

 2x 8x  2x  2

Factoring Polynomials Grade 10

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Factoring Polynomials Grade 10

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Factoring and Finding Roots of

A Polynomial Expression can be a monomial or a

In a Polynomial Equation, two

Terms are Factors of a Polynomial if, when they

 (x - 3) and (x + 5) are Factors

…and the only way a product can equal zero

…then the only way the polynomial can

Rearrange the terms to have zero on one side:

Set each factor equal to zero and solve:

The only way that x2 +2x - 15 can = 0 is if x = -5 or x = 3

Setting the Factors of a Polynomial

A Polynomial Function is usually written in

The Zeros of a Polynomial Function are the

The Zeros of a Polynomial

Here is the graph of our

The Zeros of the Polynomial are the values of x

The points where y = 0 are

The x-intercepts for our graph

(-5, 0) and (3, 0)

When the Factors of a Polynomial

For our Polynomial Function:

The Factors are: (x + 5) & (x - 3)

Step 1: GCF  3cd

Factoring polynomials that are a

2. Product of first terms of both binomials

Check your answer by

6(x  3)(x 1) Factor trinomial

Step 2: Find the factors of -5:

Step 3: Place the factors inside the

Switch the order of the second terms

6x  13x  5  (3x 1)(2x  5)

Step 3: Factor out GCF

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