Factoring Worksheet Name______________________________

Using the master product!

Example done for you:
Factor:
2
2 7 ! x x +
"he master product is the product of the leading coefficient and the constant
#$ % &'
Next find all the pairs (hich multiply to &':
&'
&'
2 !
& '
! )
Next* (e (ill look at the signs+ "he master product is actually &' + "herefore the
pairs are incorrect+ ,ne of the num-ers must -e negati.e and the other must -e
positi.e in order to multiply to a negati.e #$+
"he sign of the larger num-er in each pair (ill al(ays -e the same sign as that of
the middle term in your original polynomial / 7x + 0+ 1ince the larger num-er is
positi.e* the smaller num-er in each pair must -e negati.e!
1o (e ha.e:
&'
&'
2 !
& '
! )

+
+
+
+
No( (e must circle the pair that adds up to the coefficient of the middle term in
the original polynomial: 7x +
&'
&'
2 !
& '
! )

+
+
+
+
2t this point (e factor -y grouping+ 3our trinomial (ill turn into a polynomial
(ith 4 terms -y changing the 7x + into & ' x x + +
2
2 7 ! x x + %
2
2 & ' ! x x x +

2 & ! 2 & ( ) ( ) x x x +
( ) ( )
2 & ! x x +
Work complete!
5et6s try some more:
Easier ones /(ith leading coefficient 0+ 3ou can use the 71hortcut8 here+
+
2
9 ! x x +
2+
2
9 ) x x + +
&+
2
: ' x x
4+
2
! ) x x +
!+
2
! ) x x +
;opefully* along the (ay you figured out that the pair of num-ers (hich multiplies
to the #$ and adds to the middle coefficient are the num-ers (hich can -e inserted
into the -inomials+
;arder ones /leading coefficient < 0
#ust use the master product here:
)+
2
) 4' x x +
7+
2
! ) x x +
9+
2
&' ) x x
1pecial Factoring:
When your polynomials is the difference of s=uares:
/A0
2
> /B0
2
"hen your polynomial (ill factor into con?ugates+
( ) ( )
A B A B +
Example:
2
4 : x
"his is the same as:
( )
2
2
2 & x
1o it factors into: ( ) ( )
2 & 2 & x x +
No( do these:
:+
2
9 x
'+
2
: 4 x
+
2 2
) 2! x y
2+
4
9 x
$erfect s=uare trinomials+
Note: "he sum of s=uares
does not factor!
For example:
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
2
2
: & &
: & &
or
x x x
x x x
+ +
+ + +
@n fact*
2
: x + is prime
( ) ( ) ( )
2
2 2
2 or x xy y x y x y x y + + = + + +
( ) ( ) ( )
2
2 2
2 or x xy y x y x y x y + =
Example: ( ) ( )
2
' 2! ! ! x x x x + + = + +
Aheck using F,@5: ( ) ( )
! ! x x + +

( ) ( )
2 2
! x
"he t(o middle terms add up to 'x.
"ry these:
&+
2
2' '' x x + +
4+
2
4 4: x x +
!+
2
4: 2 )4 x x + +
)+
2
: &' 2! x x +
!x
!x
2
x 2!
Check your answers:
+ ( ) ( )
& ! x x
2+ ( ) ( )
4 4 x x + +
&+ ( ) ( )
' x x +
4+ ( ) ( )
& 2 x x
!+ ( ) ( )
) x x +
)+ ( ) ( )
& 9 2 ! x x +
7+ ( ) ( )
! x x
9+ ( ) ( )
' & & 2 x x +
:+ ( ) ( )
: : x x +
'+ ( ) ( )
& 2 & 2 x x +
+ ( ) ( )
4 ! 4 ! x y x y +
2+ ( ) ( ) ( )
2
& & : x x x + +
&+ ( ) ( )
' ' x x + +
4+ ( ) ( )
7 7 x x
!+ ( ) ( )
7 9 7 9 x x + +
)+ ( ) ( )
& ! & ! x x