Factoring Quadratic Expressions:

Special Cases
Special case 1: Difference of Squares
Difference of squares is a special case of factoring, which follows a specific pattern. Firstly, it is
important to be able to recognize a difference of squares.

For an algebraic expression to be a difference of squares the first and last terms must be
perfect squares. The two perfect squares must be subtracted.

Perfect square – a number whose square root is a whole number and/or a variable with an
even exponent.

Numbers that are perfect squares: 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, …

Variables are perfect squares if they have an even exponent (e.g. 2, 4, 6, 8, etc.)

Examples of Difference of Squares NOT Examples of Difference of Squares

4x2 – 9 16y4 – 25 169p8 − 1 4x2 + 9 16y5 – 25 168p8 – 1

If you can recognize a difference of squares, the factoring can be done in one line according to
the pattern below.
Factoring a difference of squares:

a2 − c2 = (a + c) (a − c)

Notice that the first term inside both brackets is the square root of a2; the second term inside
both brackets is the square root of c2; the operation sign inside one bracket is + and inside the
other bracket is −.
Example:
Factor. 25x2 – 121.
Step 1: Try to common factor first. There are no common factors of 25x2 and 121.
Step 2: Recognize that this is a difference of squares since 25x2 and 121 are both perfect
squares AND these two perfect squares are being subtracted.
Step 3: Factor according to a2 − c2 = (a + c) (a − c).

25x2 – 121 = (√ 2
+√ ) (√ 2
– √ )
= (5x + 11)(5x – 11)

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Factoring Quadratic Expressions:
Special Cases
Step 4 (Optional):To double check the answer, expand (5x + 11)(5x – 11). The result of
expanding should be 25x2 – 121.

(5x + 11)(5x – 11)

= 25x2 – 55x + 55x – 121

= 25x2 – 121 + 0x
= 25x2 – 121

A difference of squares can sometimes be “disguised” when it is multiplied by a common factor.

This is why it’s important to always try to common factor an algebraic expression first.

Example:
Factor. 98x3 – 2x.
Step 1: Common factor the expression first.
98 and 2 are both divisible by 2
x3 and x are both divisible by x
Thus, the common factor of 98x3 and 2x is 2x.
98x3 – 2x = 2x(49x2 – 1)
Notice that the algebraic expression inside the brackets, 49x2 – 1, is a difference of squares.
Step 2: Factor the difference of squares according to the pattern.

49x2 – 1 = (√ 2
+ √ ) (√ 2
– √ )
= (7x + 1)(7x – 1)
Step 3: Write the final answer by putting all of the factors together.
98x3 – 2x = 2x(7x + 1)(7x – 1)
Step 4 (Optional):To double check the answer, expand 2x(7x + 1)(7x – 1). The result of
expanding should be 98x3 – 2x.

2x(7x + 1)(7x – 1) Multiply 2x by each term in the first bracket, 7x + 1. (Note: 2x does
NOT get multiplied by each bracket since you would be multiplying
2x twice).

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Factoring Quadratic Expressions:
Special Cases
= (14x2 + 2x)(7x – 1) Use FOIL method to multiply binomial by a binomial.

= 98x3 – 2x + 14x2 – 14x2 Collect like terms.

3 2
= 98x – 2x + 0x Simplify 0x2.
= 98x3 – 2x

Special case 2: Perfect Square Trinomial

Perfect square trinomial is another special case of factoring, which follows a specific pattern.
Firstly, it is important to be able to recognize a perfect square trinomial.

For an algebraic expression to be a perfect square trinomial the first and last terms must be
perfect squares. The middle term has to equal to twice the square root of the first term
times the square root of the last term.

Examples of Perfect NOT Examples of Perfect Square Trinomials

Square Trinomials

x2 +12x + 36 x2 +12x − 36 −36 is NOT a perfect square

16y2 −40y + 25
16y2 −41y + 25 −41y does NOT equal to 2(√ 2
)(√ )
169p2 +26p −1

4x2 + 12x + 9 168p2 +26p −1 168p2 is NOT a perfect square

4x2 + 12x + 8 8 is NOT a perfect square

If you can recognize a perfect square trinomial, the factoring can be done in one line according
to the pattern below.

Factoring a perfect square trinomial:

a2 + 2ac+ c2 = (a + c)(a + c) = (a + c)2

a2 − 2ac+ c2 = (a − c)(a − c) = (a − c)2

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Factoring Quadratic Expressions:
Special Cases
Notice that the first term inside both brackets is the square root of a2; the second term inside
both brackets is the square root of c2; the operation sign (+ or −) inside the brackets is the same
as the operation sign in front of 2ac.

Example:
Factor. 36x2 − 132x + 121.
Step 1: Try to common factor first. There are no common factors of 36x2, 132x and 121.
Step 2: Recognize that this is a perfect square trinomial since 36x2 and 121 are both perfect
2
squares AND the middle term, 132x, is equal to 2(√ )( √ ) = 2(6x)(11)
Step 3: Factor according to a2 – 2ac + c2 = (a − c)2

36x2 − 132x + 121 = (√ 2

−√ )2 = (6x – 11)2

2
a2 – 2ac + c2 = (√ 2
−√ 2
) = (a − c)2

Step 4 (Optional):To double check the answer, expand (6x – 11)2. The result of expanding
should be 36x2 − 132x + 121.

(6x – 11)2 = (6x – 11)(6x – 11)

= 36x2 − 66x – 66x + 121

= 36x2 – 132x + 121

A perfect square trinomial can sometimes be “disguised” when it is multiplied by a common

factor. This is why it’s important to always try to common factor an algebraic expression
first.

Example:

Factor. −18x3 −96x2 – 128x

Step 1: Common factor the expression first.

−18x3, −96x2 and –128x are all divisible by −2x.

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Factoring Quadratic Expressions:
Special Cases
Thus, the common factor is −2x.
−18x3 −96x2 –128x = −2x(9x2 + 48x + 64)
Notice that the algebraic expression inside the brackets, 9x2 + 48x + 64, is a perfect square
trinomial.
Step 2: Factor the perfect square trinomial according to a2 + 2ac + c2 = (a + c)2

9x2 + 48x + 64 = (√ 2
+√ )2 = (3x + 8)2

a2 + 2ac + c2 = (√ 2
+√ 2
)2 = (a + c)2

Step 3: Write the final answer by putting all the factors together.
−18x3 − 96x2 –128x = −2x(3x + 8)2

From Step 1. From Step 2.

Step 4 (Optional):To double check the answer, expand −2x(3x + 8)2. The result of expanding
should be −18x3 −96x2 –128x.

−2x(3x + 8)2 = −2x(3x + 8)(3x + 8)

= (−6x2 −16x)(3x + 8)

= −18x3 − 48x2 – 48x2 –128x

= −18x3 − 96x2 –128x
Practice Questions:
1. Determine if each of the following expressions is a difference of squares, a perfect square
trinomial or neither.
a) 81q3 – 16 Answers:
b) 121d4 – d2
c) 9x2 + 6xy + y2 1. a) neither
d) 36x2 + 40x + 25 b) difference of squares
c) perfect square trinomial
2. Factor.
d) neither
a) 144y2 – 49
2. a) (12y – 7)(12y + 7)
b) (8x2 – 10x)(8x2 + 10x)
c) (13y – 7)2
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d) 3(y + 8)2
e) 2(y2 – 1) (y2 + 1)
Factoring Quadratic Expressions:
Special Cases
b) 64x4 – 100x2
c) 169y2 – 182y + 49
d) 192 + 3y2 + 48y
e) 2y4 – 2

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