Summary of Steps For Factoring A Polynomial

FACTORING
Summary of steps for factoring a polynomial:

1. Factor out any common factors. 2. If the polynomial is a binomial, check whether it can be rewritten as the difference of two squares, the difference of two cubes, or the sum of two cubes. 3. If the polynomial is a trinomial, check whether it is a perfect square trinomial. If not, factor by trial and error (guessing), or apply the AC Method. 4. If the polynomial has more than three terms, try factoring by grouping. Factoring out a common factor: EXAMPLE 1: 12xy4 - 27xy2 + 15xy3 = 3xy2(4y2 - 9 + 5y) EXAMPLE 2: 44A2n+1 B4 - 33A2nB6 = 44A2nAB4 - 33A2nB4B2 = 11A2nB4(4A - 3B2)
The Difference of Two Squares: (The sum of two squares is not factorable!)
Factoring formula: x2- y 2 = (x + y)(x - y) Example 1: x2 - 9 = x2 - 32 = (x + 3)(x - 3) Example 2: 25x2 - 81 = (5x)2 - 92 = (5x + 9)(5x - 9) Example 3: x4 - 81 = x4 - 92 = (x2)2 - 92 = (x2 - 32)(x2 + 9) = (x + 3)(x + 3)(x2 + 9) break down to squares factor using formula break down to squares factor using formula break down to exponents break down to squares factor using formula factor using formula
The Difference and Sum of Two Cubes:

Factoring formulas : x 3 y 3 = ( x y ) x 2 + xy + y 2 x +y
3 3 2
( = ( x + y )(x (
2
xy + y
) )
break down to cubes factor using formula break down to cubes factor using formula simplify
Example 1 : x 3 27 = x 3 3 3
= (x - 3 ) x + 3 x + 3 Example 2 : 27 x 3 8 y 3 = (3 x ) (2 y )
3 3 2
)
2
= (3x - 2y ) (3 x ) + 3 x 2 y + (2 y ) = (3x - 2y ) 9 x + 6 xy + 4 y
2
Example 3 : (A + B ) 8 = (A + B ) (2 )
3 3
3 2 2
= ((A + B ) 2 ) (A + B ) + (A + B )(2 ) + (2 )
= (A + B - 2 ) A + 2 AB + B + 2 A + 2B + 4
2 2
break down to cubes factor using formula simplify break down to cubes factor using formula simplify
) ) + (3b
6m+2
Example 4 : 216 x 3 m 27 b 9 m + 3 = 6 x m
m
( ) (3b ) ( 6 x ) + (6 x )(3b = (6 x 3b )( )(36 x + 18 x b = (6 x 3b

3 3 m +1 3 3 m +1 m 2 m m 3 m +1 2m m 3 2 3
3 m +1
3 m +1 2
3 m +1
+ 9b
))
Example 5 :
x 6 64 = x 6 2 6 = x3
2 3
( ) (2 ) = (x + 2 )(x 2 ) = (x + 2 )(x 2 x + 4 )( x 2 )(x

3 3 2
break down to squares

2
+ 2x + 4
factor using formula factor using formula
Factoring as the difference of two cubes yields x6 - 64 = (x2)3 - (22)3 = (x + 2)(x - 2) (x4 + 4x2 + 16). To factor completely, continue and complete the square in the trinomial
Example 6 : ( x + y ) + 27 = ( x + y ) + 33
3 3
= ((x + y ) + 3) ( x + y ) ( x + y )(3) + 3 2
2
= (x + y + 3) x + 2 xy + y 3x 3 y + 9
2 2 3 3
)
2
Example 7 : 8 x 3 + 343c 3 = (2 x ) + (7c ) = (2 x + 7c ) (2 x ) (2 x )(7c ) + (7c )

2
= (2 x + 7c ) 4 x 14 xc + 49c
2
Example 8 : 27 A 9 n + 216 B 3n + 6 = 3 A 3n
3n 3n
( ) + (6B ) ( 3A ) (3A )(6B ) + (6B ) ) = (3 A + 6 B )( = (3 A + 6 B )(9 A 18 A B + 36 B )

3 n+ 2 3 n+2 3n 2 3n n+ 2 n+2 2 n+ 2 6n 3n n+2 2n+ 4
x4 + 4x2 + 16. Given both options, a l w a y s break down to the difference of two squares first!
Perfect Square Trinomial:

Factoring formulas : x 2 + 2 xy + y 2 = ( x + y ) x 2 2 xy + y 2 = ( x y ) Example 1 :
2 2 2
4 x 2 + 4 xy 2 + y 4 = (2 x ) + 2 (2 x ) y 2 + y 2
( ) ( ) )
2
= 2x + y 2
Example 2 : 25 a 4 b 8 60 a 2 b 4 c 3 + 36 c 6 = 5 a 2 b 4
2 5a 2 b 4 6c 3 + 6c 3
)(
) (
= 5a 2 b 4 6c 3
Grouping:
Example 1: x 2 9 y 2 3 x 6 y = x 2 9 y 2 (3 x + 6 y ) = x (3 y ) 3 ( x + 2 y ) = ( x 3 y )( x + 3 y ) 3 ( x + 2 y )
2 2
Example
2 : a2x2 + b2y2 a2y2 b2x2 = a2x2 a2y2 b2x2 b2y2 = a

2
= x y = ( x + y )( x y )(a + b )(a b )
2 2 2 2
(x
) ( y ) b (x )(a b )
2 2
AC Method: (For an in-depth description of this procedure see SLAC handout: AC Method)
Example 1 : 20 x 2 31xy + 12 y 2 = 20 x 2 16 xy 15 xy + 12 y 2
= 4 x (5 x 4 y ) 3 y (5 x 4 y ) = (5 x 4 y )(4 x 3 y )
(20 )(12 ) = 2 2 5 2 2 3 = (16 )(15 ) = 31

factor out any common factors apply Factoring by Grouping
Example 2 : 28 a 2 51ac + 20 c 2 = 28 a 2 35 ac 16 ac + 20 c 2 = 7 a (4 a 5c ) 4c (4 a 5c ) = (4a - 5c )(7 a 4c )
(28 )(20 ) = 2 2 7 2 2 5 = (35 )(16 ) = 51

factor out any common factors apply Factoring by Grouping
Exercise: Factor the following polynomials.
1. 15x2 + 41x + 14 2. 3x2 16x + 5 3. 5x4y4 135xy
4. b3 + a2 + b2 a3 2ab 5. (a b)6 + 125 6. 6zx2 + 2yx 3zyx y2
Answers: 1. (3x + 7)(5x + 2) 2. (x 5)(3x 1) 3. 5xy(xy 3)(x2y 2+ 3xy + 9) 4. (b - a)(b2 + ab + a2+ b a) 5. ((a b) 2 + 5)((a b)4 5(a b)2 + 25) 6. (2x y)(3zx + y)
Revised: Spring 2005 STUDENT LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER (SLAC) Texas State University-San Marcos

Summary of Steps For Factoring A Polynomial

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FACTORING

Summary of steps for factoring a polynomial:

The Difference and Sum of Two Cubes:

( ) (3b ) ( 6 x ) + (6 x )(3b = (6 x 3b )( )(36 x + 18 x b = (6 x 3b

( ) (2 ) = (x + 2 )(x 2 ) = (x + 2 )(x 2 x + 4 )( x 2 )(x

break down to squares

factor using formula factor using formula

Example 7 : 8 x 3 + 343c 3 = (2 x ) + (7c ) = (2 x + 7c ) (2 x ) (2 x )(7c ) + (7c )

( ) + (6B ) ( 3A ) (3A )(6B ) + (6B ) ) = (3 A + 6 B )( = (3 A + 6 B )(9 A 18 A B + 36 B )

Perfect Square Trinomial:

2 : a2x2 + b2y2 a2y2 b2x2 = a2x2 a2y2 b2x2 b2y2 = a

(20 )(12 ) = 2 2 5 2 2 3 = (16 )(15 ) = 31

Example 2 : 28 a 2 51ac + 20 c 2 = 28 a 2 35 ac 16 ac + 20 c 2 = 7 a (4 a 5c ) 4c (4 a 5c ) = (4a - 5c )(7 a 4c )

(28 )(20 ) = 2 2 7 2 2 5 = (35 )(16 ) = 51

Exercise: Factor the following polynomials.

1. 15x2 + 41x + 14 2. 3x2 16x + 5 3. 5x4y4 135xy

4. b3 + a2 + b2 a3 2ab 5. (a b)6 + 125 6. 6zx2 + 2yx 3zyx y2

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