Hello, welcome to a new adventure in grade 8 math, the factoring, and The puzzle solver’s

delight.

Have you ever felt like you were staring at a jigsaw puzzle with a million pieces, no idea where
to start? That's kind of how factoring polynomials feels sometimes. But once you get the hang
of it, it's like discovering a secret code that unlocks hidden patterns and solutions.
Factoring polynomials is more than just math; it's a puzzle-solving adventure. It's about
breaking down complex expressions into simpler ones, like finding the building blocks of a
grand structure. And the best part? The satisfaction of solving a challenging factoring problem
is unmatched!
Now the objectives. This module aims to guide the students in Learning how to determine the
factors of different structured polynomials. At the end of this module, the learners are expected
to factor out completely different types of polynomials, specifically the following:
A. Difference of two square;
B. Sum and difference of two cubes;
C. Perfect square trinomials;
D. Quadratic Trinomials;
E. General Trinomials ar
F. Polynomials with common monomial factor

two variables
Let us start:

A. Difference of two squares

In algebra, some situations have special patterns of factoring. Once such a situation is factoring the
difference of two perfect squares, this is a pattern (formula) that you will want to remember!

a2 - b2 = (a + b)(a - b). take note of the pattern. The only thing that needs to be
identified here first is how to determine perfect squares expressions.

Consider the following:

1x1 = 1; 2x2=4, 3x3= 9, 4x4 = 16… 1, 4, 9, 16 are perfect square numbers of which square roots
can be extracted. For literal coefficients, those with even exponents are perfect square
expressions. Such as x2, y8, z12, a4b8, etc. wherein to extract its square, we simply divide the
exponent by 2.
Illustrative examples;
a. a12 – b2 = ( a6 +b )(a6-b) or ( a6 -b )(a6+b)
b. 16x2 – 81y2 = (4x – 9y)(4x+9y)
36 6 6
c. 121 𝑟 4 − 49𝑠 8 = ( 11 𝑟 2 + 7𝑠 4 )( 11 𝑟 2 − 7𝑠 4 )

This formula for factoring does NOT apply to a2 + b2.

It only applies to factoring a2 - b2 .
On to the next one, factoring the sum and difference of 2 cubes. How can we recognize perfect
cube expressions.Consider these 2x2x2 = 8; 1x1x1 = 8; 3x3x3= 27; 4x4x4 = 64; 5x5x5 = 125 etc.
the numbers 1,8,27,64,and 125 are what we cal perfect cube numbers. The exact cube roots are
1,2,3,4 and 5 respectively. For literal coefficients, the exponents must be divisible by three.
Here are the factoring pattern for sum and difference of 2 cubes.

Factor the Sum of Perfect Cubes:

a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 - ab + b2)
Factor the Difference of Perfect Cubes:
a3 - b3 = (a - b)(a2 + ab + b2)

Take note of the sign conventions.

Illustrative examples:
1. Factor: 8x3 – 27, are the 2 expressions perfect cubes? Yes! 8x3= (2x)(2x)(2x) whereas 27 is
3x3x3.Hence:
8x3 – 27 = (2x-3)(4x2 +6x+9)
2. Factor: 64x9 + 125, are the 2 expressions perfect cubes? Yes! 64x9= (4x3)(4x3)(4x3) whereas
125 is 5x5x5.Hence:
64x9 + 125 = (4x3+5)(16x6 - 20x3+25)
3. Factor: 56m3 - 7n3 are the 2 expressions perfect cubes? No! But if we factor out the common
term from the expression, which is 7. We can now have 7(8m3 - n3). We can now proceed with
the procedure.
7(8m3 - n3)=7(2m -n )(4m2 +2mn + n2)
Let’s move on to factoring trinomials. Trinomials can either be
A. Perfect Square Trinomials
B. Quadratic Trinomial
C. General Trinomial

Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials:

A perfect square trinomial is a trinomial whose first and third term is a perfect square
expression and the middle term is twice the product of the square roots of the first and third
term. For example 4x2 + 4x + 1. The square root of the first term is 2x, while the square root of
the third term is 1. The product of 2x and 1 is 2x and twice of it is 4x, which is our middle term.

Illustrative examples:
Factor: x2 + 12x + 36 = (x+6)(x+6) or (x+6)2
Factor: 9a2 - 6a + 1 = (3a -1)(3a-1) 0r (3a-1)2
 Factor: (m + n)2 + 12(m + n) + 36 = (m+n +6)(m+n+6) or (m+n+6)2

Trinomial Factoring
Form : 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝑐, 𝑎 = 1

Illustrative example:
a. Factor: x2 - x – 12, here c is negative and b is negative, therefore the factors subtract to
b. the value of b is -1. What factors of 12 subtracts to -1 ( -4 and +3) .Hence
x2 - x – 12= (x-4)(x+3)
b. actor: 3x2 - 3x – 36, in this problem a is not equal to 1, however, if 3 is factored out,
3(x2-x-12). Hence
3x2 - 3x – 36 = 3(x-4)(x+3)
c. Factor: x2 + 5x + 6, factors of 6 that add up to 5 are ( 3 and 2), hence
x2 + 5x + 6 = (x+2)(x+3)

Form : 𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝑐, 𝑎 ≠ 1
Factoring trinomials where , 𝑎 ≠ 1, oftentimes is difficult by the traditional; trial and
error method. Other methods have been developing to facilitate factoring trinomials in the
form𝒂𝒙𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝑐, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 ≠ 1,
a. factoring by grouping “split middle” method
b. factoring by grouping with a grid box
c. Slide and divide method.

Let us explore the split middle method. Whenever you multiply two binomials, you
create two "middle" terms, which in many cases are "like" terms and are then combined into
one term. It is the creation of these "middle" terms which becomes the focus of this method of
factoring a trinomial. This method is often called "split the middle" since it endeavors to create
two "middle" terms which will make the factoring process easier. Once the middle is "split" into
two parts, the process of "factoring by grouping" is used to arrive at the answer.
 Since this factoring process starts by dealing with the leading coefficient, a, and the
constant term, c, in the trinomial ax2 + bx + c, this method is also referred to as the "ac"
method of factoring.
Factor: 8x2 + 26x + 15
We can start the process by :
1. Multiply a and c = 8 x 15 = 120
2. factor of 120 are 6 and 20 and this ads up to 26
3. We now split the middle term to 20x and 6x .
4. Our polynomial becomes (8x2 + 20x + 6x +15)
5. Group the terms , (8x2 + 20x ) + (6x + 15)
6. factor out each grouped term
(8x2 + 20x ) = 4x(2x +5)
(6x + 15)= 3(2x+5)
7. Finally common is 2x+5, hence 8x2 + 26x + 15 = 2x+5) (4x+3)
In conclusion,
To get "Split the Middle" started, you need to find two numbers that
multiply to a • c, and also add to the value of b. These two numbers will be
used to form 2 new "middle terms", which will allow for "factoring by
grouping" to arrive at the answer.
SOLVING THE SAME PROBLEM USING A GRIDE BOX

Factor: 8x2 + 26x + 15

There are no common factors in these three terms, so we are ready to go to the grid box
method.

1. Find a • c. a • c = 8 • 15 = 120
20 • 6 = 120
2. Find two new factors of a • c (120) that add up to b (+26).
20 + 6 = 26
3. Prepare a grid box (4 cells). Place the leading term in the 8x2
upper left cell, and the constant term in the lower right cell.
+ 15
4. Just like in the original factoring by grouping, create the
"middle" terms using the two new factors. Be careful of the 8x2 20x
signs. Order is not important when placing these new 6x + 15
"middle" terms. Either arrangement will work.
5. Now, find a common factor in each ROW of the box and 4x 8x2 20x
write it outside of the box to the right (or left) of each row.
+3 6x + 15
6. Now, find the common factor in each COLUMN of the 2x +5
box and write it outside of the box above (or below) each 4x 8x2 20x
column.
+3 6x + 15
7. Read off the answers from the edges of the grid box. (4x + 3)(2x + 5)
 Slip and Slide Method
Now, we will look at another "short cut" method that seems quite popular,
referred to as the "Slide and Divide" Method or the "Slip and Slide" Method. This
method is so named because coefficients undergo a variety of slipping, sliding, and
dividing maneuvers.

The "Slide and Divide" Method of Factoring Trinomials:

Four basic steps are followed in this method that appear in the table below.
Factor a trinomial of the form ax2 + bx + c, a ≠ 1:
Factor: 3x2 + 13x - 10
1: "Slide" the leading coefficient, a, over to the
constant term, c, at the end of the trinomial, and
multiply those two values.
Replace the constant, c, with this new a times c.
Remove the leading coefficient. x2 + 13x - 30
2: Factor the new trinomial expression.
The new trinomial can be factored easily since (x + 15)(x - 2)
it has a leading coefficient of 1.
3: "Divide" both of those numeric factors of -
30 by the value "slipped" over in Step 1
(which is 3).
4: Simplify the fractions where
possible. "Slide"any demonimator left over up
next to the variable. (x + 5)(3x - 2) Answer
In this case, "slide" the 3 to be the coefficient
of x.

FACTORING POLYNOMIALS USING A COMMON MONOMIAL FACTOR.

Factoring any polynomial always starts out with factoring out the greatest common factor
among the given terms of the polynomials. Before any special factoring form can follow.
Find the greatest common factor of 12, 24, and 42.
Factors of 12: 2,3,4,6,12
Factors of 24: 2,3,4,6,8,12,24
Factors of 42: 2,3,6,7,21,42
Greatest Common Factor = 6
Find the GCF of the terms x3, x2 and x5.in this case just look for the smallest value of
exponent. Greatest Common Factor = x2.
Find the GCF of the terms 3a3b4, 6a4b2, and 12a6b.
Greatest common factor of 3,6 , and 12 is 3
Greatest common factor of a3,a4, and a6 is a3. / b, b2, and b4 is b. hence the GCF is 3a3b

Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

and Polynomials
Let's take a look at using the "greatest common factor" to factor polynomials.
The greatest common factor will prove to be an important algebraic tool.

Process: To factor the GCF out of a polynomial

1. Find the greatest common factor of all terms of the
polynomial.
2. List each term as the product of the GCF and another factor.
3. Use the distributive property in reverse to factor out the
GCF.

1. Factor: 2x4 + 6x3 - 4x2.

2x4 + 6x3 - 4x2 = 2x2(x2 +3x – 2)
2. Factor: -10a3 + 5a2 - 15a
-10a3 + 5a2 - 15a = -5a(2a2 -a +3)
3. Factor: 5x(x + 2) + 9(x + 2)
Factor: 5x(x + 2) + 9(x + 2) = (5x+9)(x+2)
4. 3a(2a - 1) + 9(2a - 1)
3a(2a - 1) + 9(2a - 1) = (3a+9)(2a-1) = 3(a+3)(2a-1)
5. (x + 2)(x + 7) + (x + 2)(3x - 2)
(x + 2)(x + 7) + (x + 2)(3x - 2) = (x-2) (3x-2) +(x + 7)
= (x-2) (3x-2 + x + 7 )
= (x-2)(4x +5)

Note: Always try to factor out first a polynomial via common monomial factoring whenever
possible then proceed to any factoring procedure applicable to be able to factor out completely
a polynomial.

EXTRA:

Factoring Higher Powers

1. Factor: a4 + a2 – 12
*** all three terms has no common factor
*** 12 is not a perfect square,

How to factor this? If we replace a2 by x, then we can rewrite the polynomial as x2 +x -12.
[ x2 +x -12 = (a2)2+ a2 -12 ]
as x2 +x -12 = (x+4)(x-3). Substituting x by a2 again, we have (a2 +4)(a2 – 3)
2. Factor: 2x5 - 9x4 - 5x3
To factor this, factor out first the common monomial factor which is x3.
2x5 - 9x4 - 5x3= x3(2x2 – 9x – 5), the trinomial can be factored out further by any of the
methods discussed.
Using the slide and divide:
(2x2 – 9x – 5) = x2 – 9x -10
= (x -10)(x+1)
10 1
= (𝑥 − )(x+2)
2

= (x-5)( 2x+1)
Final answer x3 (x-5)(2x+1).
3. Factor: m8 – 16, this can be factored out using the difference of 2 squares.
: m8 – 16 = (m4 +4)(m4-4).
= (m4 +4)(m2 -2)(m2+2)
- END–
EXERCISES:
A. COMMON MONOMIAL FACTORING

B. factoring difference of 2 squares

C Factoring sum and difference of 2 cubes

D. Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

E. Factoring general trinomials. You may use any method

F. Factoring higher-order polynomials