FRANCIS LOUIE C.

FORTIN
BSED MATH-3A
Factor Completely.
4x2 + 83x + 60

• Nothing common
• Factors of the first term: 1 & 4 or 2 & 2
• Factors of the last term: 1,6 2,30 3,20 4,15 5,12 6,10
• Since each pair of factors of the last has an even number,
we can not use 2 & 2 from the first term

• (4x + 3)(1x + 20 )
 Sign Pattern for the Binomials
Trinomial Sign Pattern Binomial Sign Pattern
+ + ( + )( + )
- + ( - )( - )
- - 1 plus and 1 minus
+ - 1 plus and 1 minus

But as you can tell from the previous example, the

FOIL method of factoring requires a lot of trial and
error (and hence luck!) . . . Better way?
Method for factoring ax2 + bx + c
1. Factor out the GCF, if any
2. For the remaining trinomial, multiply ac
3. Look for factors of ac that sum to b
4. Rewrite the bx term as a sum using the
factors found in step 3
5. Factor by grouping
6. Check by multiplying using FOIL
 3 2 – 4x
Ex: Factor 3x 4 – 15
1. Is there a GCF? No
2. Multiply ac  a = 3 and c = – 15 3(-15) = - 45
3. Factors of -45 that sum to – 4
1 – 45  – 44 Note: although there are more
factors of – 45, we don’t have to
3 – 15  – 12
check them since we found what
5 –9 –4 we were looking for!

4. Rewrite the middle term

3x2 – 4x – 15 = 3x2 – 9x + 5x – 15
Four-term polynomial . . . How should we
proceed to factor?
 Factor by grouping . . . 3x2 – 9x + 5x – 15

Common factor among the 1st two terms? 3x

3
 3 x 2 – 9x = 3x( x – 3 )
3x 3x
Common factor among the 2nd two terms? 5
3
 5 x – 15 = 5( x – 3 )
5 5
 3x2 – 9x + 5x – 15 = 3x(x – 3) + 5(x – 3)
= (x – 3)( 3x + 5 )
 5 – 12
2 2 + 5t
Ex: Factor 2t
1. Is there a GCF? No
2. Multiply ac  a = 2 and c = – 12 2(-12) = - 24
3. Factors of -24 that sum to 5
1 – 24  – 23 Close but wrong sign so reverse it

2 – 12  – 10 -3 8 5

3 –8 –5

4. Rewrite the middle term

2t2 + 5t – 12 = 2t2 – 3t + 8t – 12

Four-term polynomial . . . Factor by grouping . . .

 2t2 – 3t + 8t – 12

Common factor among the 1st two terms? t

3
 2 t 2 – 3t = t( 2t – 3)
t t
Common factor among the 2nd two terms? 4
2 3
 8 t – 12 = 4( 2t – 3 )
4 4
 2t2 – 3t + 8t – 12 = t(2t – 3) + 4(2t – 3)
= (2t – 3)( t + 4 )
 9 4 + 18x
Ex: Factor 9x 18 2 + 88
1. Is there a GCF? No
2. Multiply ac  a= 9 and c = 8 9(8) = 72
3. Factors of 72 that sum to 18
1 72  73 Bit big  think bigger factors

3 24  27
6 12  18 

4. Rewrite the middle term

9x4 + 18x2 + 8 = 9x4 + 6x2 + 12x2 + 8

Four-term polynomial . . . Factor by grouping . . .

 9x4 + 6x2 + 12x2 + 8

Common factor among the 1st two terms? 3x2

3x2 2
 9x4 + 6x2 = 3x2(3x2 + 2 )
3x2 3x2
Common factor among the 2nd two terms? 4
3 3
 12x2 + 8 = 4( 3x2 + 2 )
4 4
 9x4 + 6x2 + 12x2 + 8 = 3x2(3x2 + 2) + 4(3x2 + 2)
= (3x2 + 2)( 3x2 + 4 )
 – 17 +y6y2 6y2 Pick one to be the variable
122 – 17xy
Ex: Factor 12x
1. Is there a GCF? No, but notice two variables
2. Multiply ac  a = 12x2 and c = 6y2 12x2(6y2) = 72y2
3. Factors of 72x2y2 that sum to - 17xy
-1xy -72xy  -73xy Each factor need a y, both need to be
negative
-6xy -12xy  -18xy
Too big, think bigger factors
-8xy -9xy  -17xy 

4. Rewrite the middle term

12x2 – 17xy + 6y2 = 12x2 – 8xy – 9xy + 6y2

Four-term polynomial . . . Factor by grouping . . .

 12x2 – 8xy – 9xy + 6y2

Common factor among the 1st two terms? 4x

3x 2y
 12x2 – 8xy = 4x( 3x – 2y )
4x 4x
Common factor among the 2nd two terms? - 3y
3 -2y
 – 9xy + 6y2 = - 3y( 3x – 2y )
-3y -3y
 12x2 – 8xy – 9xy + 6y2 = 4x(3x – 2y) – 3y(3x – 2y)
= (3x – 2)( 4x – 3y
)