Common Factors

5.3
During a performance at a sea-life park, a dolphin
jumps out of the water. Its height, h, in metres,
above the water after t seconds can be approximated
by the relation h ⫽ 10x ⫺ 5x2. This relation can
also be written as h ⫽ 5x(2 ⫺ x), because the terms
in the polynomial 10x ⫺ 5x2 have a common factor
of 5x.

Investigate A

Tools How can you use a model to find factors of a polynomial?

䊏 algebra tiles
1. To factor 2x ⫹ 4, use algebra tiles to create a rectangular area
whose length and width represent the factors of the polynomial.
a) Arrange two x-tiles and four unit tiles to form a rectangle with
area 2x ⫹ 4. Then, place tiles along the left side and top to find
the length and width of the rectangle. One dimension has been
done for you.
b) Write an equation for the area as a
product of the length and width.

2. Repeat step 1 for 6x ⫹ 18. How many

different rectangles can you find?

3. Use algebra tiles to find the factors of

x2 ⫹ 2x. Express the area as a product
of the length and width.

4. Use algebra tiles to factor 2x2 ⫹ 4x. How many different rectangles
can you find? Write an area statement for each one.

5. Use algebra tiles to factor each expression, if possible.

If it is not possible, explain why.
a) 3x ⫹ 3 b) 4x ⫹ 10 c) x2 ⫹ 4x
d) 2x2 ⫹ 6x e) 2x ⫹ 5 f) 4x2 ⫹ 10x

6. Reflect Explain how you can express a polynomial as

a product of factors.

228 MHR • Chapter 5

Investigate B

How can you use the greatest common factor (GCF) to factor a
polynomial?
Method 1: Use Pencil and Paper
1. Find the GCF for each set of numbers by first expressing each
number as a product of prime factors.
a) 12 and 8 b) 15 and 25
c) 4, 10, and 6 d) 6, 18, and 24

2. a) Find the GCF of 12 and 9.

b) Write each number as a product of two factors, where the
first factor is the GCF. What operation did you use to obtain
the second factor?

3. Find the GCF of each pair of terms.

a) 73 and 72 b) 56 and 54
c) x2 and x d) x3 and x4

4. a) Find the GCF of x6 and x4.

b) Write each term as a product of two factors, where the first
factor is the GCF. What operation did you use to obtain the
second factor?

5. Find the GCF of the polynomial 2x2 ⫹ 4x by first expressing

each term as a product.
2x2 ⫽ 2 ⫻ x ⫻ x
4x ⫽ 2 ⫻ 2 ⫻ x
Multiply the common factors to calculate the GCF.
a) What is the GCF of 2x2 ⫹ 4x?
b) Rewrite the polynomial as the sum of products. Express
each term as a product of two factors, where the first factor
is the GCF. Use division to determine the second factor of
each term.
c) Write the polynomial as a product of two factors, where the
first factor is the GCF. What polynomial is the second factor?
d) Verify your factors from part c) by expanding.

6. Repeat step 5 for each polynomial.

a) 3x2 ⫹ 6x b) 2x2 ⫹ 8x
c) 4y ⫹ 10y2 d) 7y3 ⫹ 14y2

7. Reflect Explain how to factor a polynomial using the GCF.

5.3 Common Factors • MHR 229

 Tools Method 2: Use a Computer Algebra System (CAS)
䊏 TI-89 calculator 1. Clear the calculator’s memory by selecting 2:NewProb from the
Clean Up menu.

2. Factor each expression. Press ™. Select 2:factor(. Type the

expression, and then press )e. Record the results.
a) 2x ⫹ 2 b) 2x ⫹ 4 c) 2x ⫹ 6
d) 2x ⫹ 8 e) 2x ⫹ 10

3. Consider the pairs of factors from step 2. How are they the same?
How are they different? Provide a reason for your answers.

4. Use a CAS to factor each polynomial. Record the results.

a) 3x2 ⫹ 6x ⫹ 9 b) 3x2 ⫹ 12x ⫹ 15

5. a) Look at the coefficients of the terms of each polynomial

in step 4. What is the GCF?
b) Look at the terms in the second factor from step 4. Since the
first factor is the GCF of the polynomial, what operation
provides the coefficients of the terms in the second factor?

6. a) Use a CAS to factor

6x2 ⫹ 9x ⫹ 24. Record
the result.
b) What is the GCF of the
polynomial 6x2 ⫹ 9x ⫹ 24?
c) Use a CAS to divide the
GCF into each term of
6x2 ⫹ 9x ⫹ 24, as shown.
Does the result match the second factor from part a)?

7. Use a CAS to factor each polynomial. Record the results.

a) 2x2 ⫹ 4x b) 2x2 ⫹ 8x

8. a) Look at the coefficients of the terms of each polynomial in step

7. What is the GCF? Look at the variable parts. What is the GCF?
b) The first factor of each result from step 7 is the GCF of the
polynomial. How is it related to your answers for part a)?
c) Look at the terms in the second factor from step 7. Since
the first factor is the GCF of the polynomial, what operation
provides the terms in the second factor?

9. a) Use a CAS to factor 6x2 ⫹ 15x. Record the result.

b) What is the GCF of the polynomial 6x2 ⫹ 15x?
c) Use a CAS to divide the GCF into each term of 6x2 ⫹ 15x. Does
the result match the second factor from part a)?

10. Reflect Explain how to factor a polynomial using the GCF.

230 MHR • Chapter 5

A polynomial is factored when it is written as a product of two or more
polynomials. Factoring a polynomial is the reverse process of expanding.
To factor a polynomial:
• Find the GCF of the terms.
• Write the GCF as the first factor outside a set of brackets.
• Divide each term by the GCF, writing the result inside the brackets.

Example 1 Use a Model

Use algebra tiles to factor x2 ⫹ 3x.

Solution
The polynomial x2 ⫹ 3x can be represented by
a rectangle with area x2 ⫹ 3x. The width of the
rectangle is x and the length is x ⫹ 3. The
dimensions of the rectangle are the factors of
the polynomial.
x2 ⫹ 3x ⫽ x(x ⫹ 3)

Example 2 Monomial Common Factor

Factor fully, if possible.

a) 6x ⫹ 3 b) 8x2 ⫺ 7x
c) 25k6 ⫹ 15k4 d) 21c4d3 ⫺ 28c2d5 ⫹ 7cd3
e) 5x5y3 ⫹ 7w5z2

Solution
a) The GCF of the coefficients, 6 and 3, is 3.
There is no GCF of the variable parts.
Therefore, the GCF of the polynomial is 3.
Divide each term by 3.
6x 3
6x ⫹ 3 ⫽ 3 a ⫹ b
3 3
⫽ 3(2x ⫹ 1)

b) There is no common factor of the coefficients.

The GCF of the variable parts, x2 and x, is x.
Therefore, the GCF of the polynomial is x.
Divide each term by x.
8x2 7x
8x2 ⫺ 7x ⫽ x a ⫺ b
x x
⫽ x(8x ⫺ 7)

5.3 Common Factors • MHR 231

 c) The GCF of the coefficients, 25 and 15, is 5.
The GCF of the variable parts, k6 and k4, is k4. When I compare
Therefore, the GCF of the polynomial is 5k4. the exponents, the
Divide each term by 5k4. GCF of the variable
parts is the
25k6 15k4
25k6 ⫹ 15k4 ⫽ 5k4 a ⫹ b variable with the
5k4 5k4 least exponent.
Apply the ⫽ 5k4(5k2 ⫹ 3)
exponent laws.
I can check my answer by
d) The GCF of the coefficients, 21, ⫺28,
expanding.
and 7, is 7.
The GCF of the variable parts, c4d3, 7cd 3(3c3 — 4cd 2 + 1)
= 21c 4d 3 — 28c 2d 5 + 7cd 3
c2d5 and cd3, is cd3.
Therefore, the GCF of the polynomial is 7cd3.
Divide each term by 7cd3 mentally.
21c4d3 ⫺ 28c2d5 ⫹ 7cd3 ⫽ 7cd3(3c3 ⫺ 4cd2 ⫹ 1)

e) Since the GCF of the terms of the

polynomial 5x5y3 ⫹ 7w5z2 is 1, it is not factorable.

Example 3 Binomial Common Factor

Factor.
a) 3x(y ⫹ 1) ⫹ 7z(y ⫹ 1)
b) 2x(x ⫺ 3) ⫺ 5(x ⫺ 3)

Solution
a) Think of (y ⫹ 1) as one factor.
The GCF is the binomial (y ⫹ 1).
Divide each term by (y ⫹ 1) mentally. Write the GCF first.
3x(y ⫹ 1) ⫹ 7z(y ⫹ 1) Collect the (3x + 7z)
⫽ (y ⫹ 1)(3x ⫹ 7z) in the second set of
brackets.
b) Think of (x ⫺ 3) as one factor.
The GCF is the binomial (x ⫺ 3).
Divide each term by (x ⫺ 3) mentally.
2x(x ⫺ 3) ⫺ 5(x ⫺ 3)
⫽ (x ⫺ 3)(2x ⫺ 5)

Often there is no common factor for all the terms in a polynomial, but
some of the terms have a common factor. A process of factoring by
grouping can sometimes be used with these polynomials. This process
involves factoring groups of terms first, instead of factoring the entire
polynomial.

232 MHR • Chapter 5

Example 4 Factor by Grouping

Factor.
a) ax ⫹ ay ⫹ 2x ⫹ 2y
b) 9x2 ⫹ 15x ⫹ 3x ⫹ 5

Solution
a) Group terms with a common factor. Factor the GCF from each
grouping. Then, remove the binomial common factor.
ax ⫹ ay ⫹ 2x ⫹ 2y or ax ⫹ ay ⫹ 2x ⫹ 2y
⫽ (ax ⫹ ay) ⫹ (2x ⫹ 2y) ⫽ (ax ⫹ 2x) ⫹ (ay ⫹ 2y)
⫽ a(x ⫹ y) ⫹ 2(x ⫹ y) ⫽ x(a ⫹ 2) ⫹ y(a ⫹ 2)
⫽ (x ⫹ y)(a ⫹ 2) ⫽ (a ⫹ 2)(x ⫹ y)

b) 9x2 ⫹ 15x ⫹ 3x ⫹ 5 or 9x2 ⫹ 15x ⫹ 3x ⫹ 5

⫽ (9x2 ⫹ 15x) ⫹ (3x ⫹ 5) ⫽ (9x2 ⫹ 3x) ⫹ (15x ⫹ 5)
⫽ 3x(3x ⫹ 5x) ⫹ 1(3x ⫹ 5) ⫽ 3x(3x ⫹ 1) ⫹ 5(3x ⫹ 1)
⫽ (3x ⫹ 5)(3x ⫹ 1) ⫽ (3x ⫹ 1)(3x ⫹ 5)

Key Concepts
䊏 Factoring a polynomial is the opposite of expanding a polynomial.
Factoring
x2 ⫹ 3x ⫽ x(x ⫹ 3)
Expanding
䊏 To find the GCF of a polynomial, find the GCF of the coefficients,
and then find the GCF of the variable parts.
䊏 To factor a polynomial, remove the GCF as the first factor, and then
divide each term by the GCF to obtain the second factor.
8x2y3 ⫺ 12x4y ⫽ 4x2y(2y2 ⫺ 3x2)
䊏 For polynomials with more than one variable, the GCF of the
variable parts is the product of the common bases with the least
exponent.
The GCF of 2x3y4z2 ⫹ 4x2y2z3 is 2x2y2z2.
䊏 A common factor is not necessarily a monomial.
a(x ⫹ 2) ⫹ b(x ⫹ 2) has a binomial common factor of (x ⫹ 2).
䊏 To factor by grouping, factor groups of two terms with a common
factor to produce a binomial common factor.
bx ⫹ 3x ⫹ by ⫹ 3y ⫽ (bx ⫹ 3x) ⫹ (by ⫹ 3y)
⫽ x(b ⫹ 3) ⫹ y(b ⫹ 3)
⫽ (b ⫹ 3)(x ⫹ y)

5.3 Common Factors • MHR 233

 Communicate Your Understanding
C1 Explain how the diagram illustrates the
factoring of a polynomial.
C2 Each of the following is an example of a
common error when factoring. Describe each
error and make the appropriate correction.
a) 35x2 ⫺ 5x ⫽ 5x(7x ⫺ 0)
b) 4y3 ⫹ 7y2 ⫽ 4y2(y ⫹ 7)
c) 16k3m2 ⫺ 8k2m ⫽ 4k2m(4km ⫺ 2)
d) 9a3b5 ⫹ 6a2b4 ⫽ 3ab(3a2b4 ⫹ 2ab3)

C3 Describe how you would factor each polynomial.

a) 3c(d ⫺ 5) ⫺ 8(d ⫺ 5)
b) 10x2 ⫺ 14xy ⫺ 15x ⫹ 21y

Practise
1. Find the GCF of each pair of terms. For help with question 5, see Example 3.
a) 2x and 3x b) 6ab and ⫺8ac 5. Factor, if possible.
c) x2 and x3 d) k4 and k7 a) 3x(x ⫹ 8) ⫹ 5(x ⫹ 8)
e) 3m2 and 5m f) ⫺12y2 and ⫺15y4 b) a(b ⫹ 1) ⫹ 9c(b ⫹ 1)

For help with question 2, see Example 1. c) 2y(x ⫺ 5) ⫹ 4(x ⫹ 5)

d) 4s(r ⫹ u) ⫺ t(r ⫹ u)
2. Use algebra tiles or a diagram to illustrate
the factoring of each polynomial. For help with question 6, see Example 4.
a) x2 ⫹ 5x b) 3x2 ⫹ 6x
6. Factor by grouping.
c) 6x2 ⫹ 4x
a) mx ⫹ my ⫹ 2x ⫹ 2y
For help with questions 3 and 4, see Example 2. b) x2 ⫹ 3x ⫹ 2x ⫹ 6

3. Factor fully, if possible. c) ay2 ⫹ 3ay ⫹ 4y ⫹ 12

a) 15w ⫹ 25z b) 3a ⫺ 11b d) 6x2 ⫹ 9x ⫺ 2x ⫺ 3

c) 17ca ⫺ 8cd d) 9y ⫺ 8y3 e) 16v2 ⫺ 12v ⫺ 12v ⫹ 9

e) 12b4 ⫹ 18b2 f) 4g2 ⫺ 8g ⫹ 6

g) 7h ⫹ 3m ⫺ 5k h) 2n5 ⫹ 12n4 ⫺ 6n3
Connect and Apply
7. a) Write a polynomial with two terms that
4. Factor fully, if possible. has a GCF of 6.
a) 14x2y ⫹ 16xy3 b) 10k3m2 ⫺ 6k2m2 b) Write a polynomial with three terms
c) 8s2y ⫹ 11t3 d) 66c4de2 ⫺ 22c2de2 that has a GCF of x.
e) 7gh ⫹ 2mn ⫺ 13pq c) Write a polynomial with two terms that
f) 5fg2 ⫺ 25fg ⫹ 20f2g has a GCF of 5y2.
g) 27r 2s2 ⫺ 18r3s2 ⫺ 36rs3 d) Write a polynomial with three terms
that has a GCF of 2a2b3.
h) 4n2p3 ⫹ 10n4p2 ⫺ 12n3p2

234 MHR • Chapter 5

 8. The formula for the perimeter of a 13. Write an expression, in fully factored form,
rectangle is P ⫽ 2l ⫹ 2w. for each of the shaded regions.
a) Write the formula in factored form. a)
b) If l represents 15 cm and w represents 4y
2y 4x
9 cm, find the perimeter using both the
original and the factored forms. What 8x
do you notice? Explain why this is so.
b)
9. The formula for the surface area of a
cylinder is SA ⫽ 2␲r 2 ⫹ 2␲rh. r
a) Write the formula in factored form. R
b) If r represents 3 cm and h represents
8 cm, find the surface area using both
the original and the factored forms.
What do you notice? Explain why this
is so. Extend
10. A rectangle has area given by the 14. Factor the quadratic relation y ⫽ 2x2 ⫺ 3x
expression 6x2 ⫹ 9x. The length and width to find the x-intercepts.
can be found by factoring the expression.
15. Factor each polynomial using a fraction as
Find all possible expressions for the length
and width. one of the common factors. Explain how
this can simplify the operations when the
11. Binomial factors can differ by a factor of values of the variables are known.
⫺1. An example is 7 ⫺ y and y ⫺ 7, since 1 2 3 2
7 ⫺ y can be rewritten as ⫺1(y ⫺ 7). Use a) x ⫹ y
2 2
this fact to factor each expression.
2 3 1
a) 5x(7 ⫺ y) ⫹ 4(y ⫺ 7) b) a ⫺ ab
3 3
b) 5y(x ⫺ 1) ⫹ 2(1 ⫺ x) 1 4 2 1 3 1 2 2
c) k m ⫺ km ⫹ k m
12. Chapter Problem 6 2 3
x
The base length of 16. Math Contest If 3a ⫹ 8b ⫽ 12, then what
x
each square-based is the value of 15a ⫹ 40b?
prism in the x
A 36
pedestal design is
3 cm less than that 2x + 5 B 48
of the layer 2x + 5 C 60
immediately below. D 84
a) Write an algebraic expression for the E 180
total of the top surface areas of the three
prisms used to make the pedestal. 17. Math Contest Show that the sum of the
b) Expand and simplify. squares of any five consecutive integers is
divisible by 5.
c) Factor the resulting expression from
part b).

5.3 Common Factors • MHR 235