P.

5 Notes
Factoring Polynomials

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 1

Objectives

• Factor out the greatest common factor of a polynomial.

• Factor by grouping.
• Factor trinomials like x 2 + bx + c .
• Factor trinomials like ax 2
+ bx + c .
• Factor the difference squares.
• Factor the sum or difference of cubes.
• Use a general strategy for factoring polynomials.
• Factor algebraic expressions containing fractional and
negative exponents.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 2

Factoring Polynomials

Factoring a polynomial expressed as the sum of

monomials means finding an equivalent expression that
is a product. The goal in factoring a polynomial is to
use one or more factoring techniques until each of the
polynomial’s factors, except possibly for a monomial
factor, is prime or irreducible. In this situation, the
polynomial is said to be factored completely.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 3

Greatest Common Factor

The greatest common factor, abbreviated GCF, is an

expression of the highest degree that divides each term
of the polynomial.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 4

Example: Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor

Factor:
10 x − 4 x
3 2

24 a 3b 2 + 8ab 2

2 x( x − 7) + 3( x − 7)

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 5

Checkpoint 1

Factor:
a. 18 x 3 + 27 x 2

x ( x + 3) + 5( x + 3)
2
b.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 6

Factoring by Grouping

Some polynomials have only a greatest common factor

of 1. However, by a suitable grouping of the terms, it
still may be possible to factor. This process is called
factoring by grouping.

When you we factor by grouping?

When there is four terms.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 7

Example: Factoring by Grouping

Factor: x3 + 5 x 2 − 2 x − 10

6 x 3 − 9 x 2 + 24 x − 12

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 8

Checkpoint 2

Factor: x + 4 x + 3 x + 12
3 2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 9

Example: Factoring a Trinomial Whose Leading
Coefficient is 1: x 2 + bx + c
Factor: x + 6x + 8
2

x − 6x + 8
2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 10

x + 2x − 8
2

x − 2x − 8
2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 11

Example: Factoring a Trinomial Whose Leading
Coefficient is a: ax 2 + bx + c
Factor:
8 x − 10 x − 3
2

6 x + 19 x − 7
2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 12

Example: Factoring a Trinomial Whose Leading
Coefficient is a: ax 2 + bx + c
Factor:

6 x 2 − 26 x + 8

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 13

Checkpoint 3

Factor:
a. x 2
+ 6x + 8
b.
x + 3 x − 18
2

c. 3x 2 − x − 2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 14

The Difference of Squares

If A and B are real numbers, variables, or algebraic

expressions, then
A2 − B 2 = ( A + B)( A − B)
In words: The difference of the squares of two terms
factors as the product of a sum and a difference of those
terms.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 15

Example: Factoring the Difference of Two Squares

Factor:
x − 81
2

36 x − 25
2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 16

81x − 16
4

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 17

Checkpoint 4

Factor: x −4
2

81x − 49
2

x − 81
4

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 18

Example: Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials

Factor: 16 x 2 − 56 x + 49
Use ax 2 + bx + c

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 19

Checkpoint 5

Factor:
a. x 2
+ 6x + 9

b. 25 x − 60 x + 36
2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 20

Factoring the Sum or Difference of Cubes

1. Factoring the Sum of Cubes

A3 + B3 = ( A + B)( A2 − AB + B 2 )

2. Factoring the Difference of Cubes

A − B = ( A − B)( A + AB + B )
3 3 2 2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 21

Example: Factoring Sums and Differences of Cubes

Factor: 125 x − 8
3

We will use the formula for factoring the difference of

cubes: A − B = ( A − B)( A + AB + B )
3 3 2 2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 22

Checkpoint 6

Factor:
a. x 3
+8

b.
64 x − 125
3

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 23

A Strategy for Factoring Polynomials

1. If there is a common factor, factor out the GCF.

2. Determine the number of terms in the polynomial
and try factoring as follows:
a. If there are two terms, can the binomial be
factored by using one of the following special
forms?
Difference of Squares A − B = ( A + B)( A − B)
2 2

Sum of Cubes A3
+ B 3
= ( A + B )( A2
− AB + B 2
)
Difference of Cubes A3 − B3 = ( A − B)( A2 + AB + B)

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 24

A Strategy for Factoring Polynomials (continued)

b. If there are three terms, may either be of the

form:
x + bx + c
2

ax 2 + bx + c

c. If there are four or more terms, try factoring by

grouping.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 25

A Strategy for Factoring Polynomials (continued)

3. Check to see if any factors with more than one term

in the factored polynomial can be factored further. If
so, factor completely.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 26

Checkpoint 7

Figure out which method to use to factor:

a. 3 x 3 − 30 x 2 + 75 x
b. 5 x 3 − 45 x
c. x 2 − 10 x + 25 − 36 y 2
d. x 2 + 64
e. 6 x 2 − 18 x − 60
f. 27 x 3 − 1
g. 25 x 2 + 10 x + 1

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 27

Factoring Algebraic Expressions Containing Fractional
and Negative Exponents

Although expressions containing fractional and negative

exponents are not polynomials, they can be simplified
using factoring techniques.

* Tip: Factor the greatest common factor with the

smaller exponent of the two terms.

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 28

Example: Factoring Involving Fractional and Negative
Exponents

1 1
−
Factor and simplify: x( x − 1) 2
+ ( x − 1) 2

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 29

Checkpoint 8

Factor and simplify:

3 1
−
x( x − 1) 4
+ ( x + 1) 4

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 30

Checkpoint Answers

CP 1 CP 4
a. ( x + 2)( x − 2)
a. 9 x 2
(2 x + 3)
b. (9 x + 7)(9 x − 7)
b. ( x + 3)( x 2 + 5) c. ( x 2 + 9)( x + 3)( x − 3)
CP 2
CP 5
( x + 4)( x 2 + 3) a. ( x + 3) 2
CP 3 b.
(5 x − 6) 2
a. ( x + 4)( x + 2) CP 6
b. ( x + 6)( x − 3) a.
( x + 2)( x 2 − 2 x + 4)
c.
(3 x + 2)( x − 1) b. (4 x − 5)(16 x 2 + 20 x + 25)

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 31

CP 7
a. GCF and x 2 + bx + c
b. GCF and difference of squares
c. Factor by grouping
d. Prime: does not factor
e. GCF and x + bx + c
2

f. Difference of cubes
g. : ax 2
+ bx + c

CP 8 2x +1
3
( x + 1) 4

Copyright © 2014, 2010, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc. 32