FACTORING

POLYNOMIAL
S
Learning Objectives
1.Recall the different factoring
techniques.
2.Factor polynomials using the
different factoring techniques.
 Factoring Polynomials with
Greatest Common Factor

Greatest Common Factor is the highest possible

value of a number, a variable, or a combination of
numbers and variables which is common in each
term of a given polynomial.
 Steps in factoring polynomials with GCF:

1.Find the greatest common factor.

2.Divide each term in the polynomial by its GCF.
3.Combine the answers in Steps 1 and 2 as a
product.
Factor 6𝑥 + 4𝑥 . 2

Find the greatest common factor.

The GCF of 6x and 4x is 2x
2

Divide each term in the polynomial by its GCF

2𝑥 (3 + 2𝑥)
Combine the answers in Steps 1 and 2 as a product.
Example: Factor 4x – 2

12x.
GCF = 4x
4x – 12x = 4x(x – 3)
2

Example: Factor 6x – 12x +

3 2

18x. GCF = 6x

6x – 12x + 18x = 6x(x – 2x +

3 2 2

3)
24𝑥 + 56𝑥
8𝑥 (3 + 7𝑥 )
3
=
15

12𝑦 + 6𝑦 − 21𝑦 =
3 12

3𝑦 (4 + 2𝑦 − 7𝑦 )
5 20 7

4𝑥 − 20𝑥 + 10 =
5 15 2

2(2𝑥 − 10𝑥 + 5)
2

21𝑎 𝑏 − 14𝑎 𝑏 + 7𝑎 𝑏 =
2

7𝑎 𝑏 (3𝑎 𝑏 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 1)
4 5 3 7 2 2

2 2 2 3 5
 Factoring Polynomials with Difference of Two
Squares
The factors of difference of two squares is the
product of two binomials which is the sum and

a – b = (a + b)(a – b)
difference of its square root of each term.
2 2
Steps in Factoring the Difference of Two Squares:
1.Take the square roots of the two terms.
2. Write the product of the sum and difference of the square
roots.
Example: Factor 4x – 9.
2

a = 2x, b = 3
4x2 – 9 = (2x + 3)(2x – 3)

Example: Factor 9x – 16.

2

a = 3x, b = 4
9x2 – 16 = (3x + 4)(3x – 4)
𝑥 − 36
(𝑥+6) (𝑥−6)
2
=

(3𝑎+5𝑏) (3𝑎−5𝑏)
9𝑎 − 25𝑏 =
2 2

(10𝑏+7𝑐 )(10𝑏−7𝑐 )
100𝑏 − 49𝑐 =
2 4

2 2
FACTORING POLYNOMIAL TECHNIQUES
Perfect Square Trinomial
The result in factoring a perfect square trinomial is
the square of a binomial. It comes in two forms :
when the middle term is positive a + 2ab + b = (a
2 2

+ b)2
when the middle term is negative a2 – 2ab + b2 = (a
– b)2
To factor perfect square trinomials:
1. Get the square root of the first and last
terms
2. List down the square root as sum or
difference of two terms
FACTORING POLYNOMIAL TECHNIQUES
Perfect Square Trinomial
The result in factoring a perfect square trinomial is
the square of a binomial. It comes in two forms :
when the middle term is positive a + 2ab + b = (a
2 2

+ b)2
when the middle term2is negative a 2 – 2ab + b2 = (a
Example: Factor 4x – 12x +
– b)
9.a = 2x, b= 3, middle term is negative
2

4x2 – 12x + 9 = (2x – 3)2

Example: Factor 9x + 6x +
2

1.a = 3x, = 1, middle term is positive

9x2 + 6x + 1 = (3x + 1)2
36x + 60x + 25 =
2

4𝑥 + 20𝑥𝑦 + 25𝑦 =
(6x + 5) 2

2 2

(2𝑥 + 5𝑦)
49𝑎 − 28𝑎 + 4 =
2

(7𝑎 − 2)
𝑥 − 6𝑥 + 9 =
2

2
Sum or Difference of Two
Cubes

𝑎 +𝑏
3 3
sum of two cubes

a –b
3 3 difference of two cubes
 Sum or Difference of Two Cubes
Formula for Sum of Two Cubes
a + b = (a + b)(a – ab+b )
3 3 2 2

Steps in Factoring Polynomials with Sum of Two Cubes:

1. Take the cube roots of the two terms.
2. Write the sum of the two cube roots as the first factor.
3. For the second factor, get the trinomial factor by:
a. squaring the first term of the first factor.

𝑎 +𝑏
b. subtracting the product of the first and second
terms of the first factor.
c. squaring the last term of the first factor. 3 3
4. Write the product of the first and second factors.
 𝑥 + 64
Example: Sum of Two Cubes
3

1. Take the cube roots of the two terms.

2. Write the sum of the two cube roots as the first

(𝑥 + 4)
factor.
3. For the second factor, get the trinomial factor by:

𝑥∙𝑥=𝑥
a. squaring the first term of the first factor;
2

b. subtracting the product of the first and second

(−4) (𝑥) = −4𝑥

terms of the first factor;
 c. squaring the last term of the first factor; and
42 = 16
d. combining all the terms in steps a, b and c.
𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 16
2

(𝑥 + 4) (𝑥 − 4𝑥 + 16)
4. Write the product of the first and second factors.
2

Therefore, 𝑥3+64=(𝑥 + 4) (𝑥2−4𝑥+16).

a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab+b2)
 Sum or Difference of Two Cubes
Formula for Difference of Two Cubes
a - b = (a – b)(a + ab+b )
3 3 2 2

Steps in Factoring Polynomials with Difference of Two Cubes:

1. Take the cube roots of the two terms.
2. Write the difference of the two cube roots as the first factor.
3. For the second factor, get the trinomial factor by:
a. squaring the first term of the first factor.
b. adding the product of the first and second terms of the first factor.
c. squaring the last term of the first factor.
4. Write the product of the first and second factors.
Example: Difference of Two Cubes

8𝑥 − 27
3

1. Take the cube roots of the two terms.

2. Write the difference of the two cube roots as the

first factor.
(2x - 3)
3. For the second factor, get the trinomial factor by:

(2𝑥)2 = 4𝑥2
a. squaring the first term of the first factor;
 Example: Difference of Two Cubes

8𝑥 − 27
3

(2𝑥)(3) = 6𝑥
b. adding the product of the first and second terms of the first factor;

c. squaring the last term of the first factor; and

3 =9
2

4𝑥2 + 6𝑥 + 9
d. combining all the terms in steps a, b and c.

(2𝑥−3)( 4𝑥2+6𝑥+9)
4. Write the product of the first and second factors.

Therefore, (8𝑥 – 27)=(2𝑥 − 3)( 4𝑥 + 6𝑥 +

3 2
9). a 3
- b3
= (a – b)(a2
+ ab+
𝑥 − 64 =
(𝑥 − 4)(𝑥 + 4𝑥 + 16)
3

125−𝑥 =
2

(5 − 𝑥)(25 + 5𝑥 + 𝑥 )
3

𝑥 +8=
2

(𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 − 2𝑥 + 4)
3

−27𝑥 + 125 =
2

(−3𝑥 + 5)(9𝑥 + 15𝑥

3

+ 25)
Sum or Difference of Two
Cubes
Formula for Sum of Two Cubes
a + b = (a + b)(a – ab+b )
3 3 2 2

Formula for Difference of Two Cubes

a - b = (a – b)(a + ab+b )
3 3 2 2
FACTORING POLYNOMIAL TECHNIQUES
General Trinomial ax2 + bx + c Example: Factor 3x – x –10.
2
where a > 1
ac = 3(-10) = -
STEPS: 30
1 and -30 Sum = - 
1.Find the product of ac. 3 and -10 Sum
29 = -7 
2.Choose a pair of 2 and -15 Sum = - 
factors of ac, m, and n, 5 and -6 Sum
13 = -1 
whose sum is b. 3x2 – x –10
3.Rewrite the middle = 3x2 +5x – 6x –10
term using the m and n = (3x2 + 5x) + (– 6x –
as coefficients. 10)
= x(3x + 5) – 2(3x +
4.Group the terms and =
5) (3x + 5)(x – 2)
factor out the GCF in
 Example: Factor 2x2 – 13x +
STEPS: 15. ac = 2(15) = 30
1.Find the product of
ac. -1 and -30 Sum = - 
2.Choose a pair of -2 and -15 Sum
31 = - 
-3 and -10 Sum
17 = - 
factors of ac, m, and n, 2x2 – 13x +1513
whose sum is b. = 2x – 3x – 10x +15
2

3.Rewrite the middle = (2x2 – 3x) +(– 10x

term using the m and +15)
= x(2x – 3) – 5(2x –3)
n as coefficients. = (2x – 3)(x – 5)
4.Group the terms and
factor out the GCF in
Factor the quadratic trinomials.
1.5x2 + 2x – 3 2.
ac
2x=2 5(-3) = -
– 3x – 20 ac = 2(-20) = -
-1 and 15 Sum = 
15 40
-3 and 5 Sum 14 = 2  1 and -40 Sum = -
2 and -20 39 Sum = -


5x2 + 2x – 3 4 and -10 Sum 18 = -6 



= 5x2 – 3x + 5x – 3 5 and -8 Sum = -3 

= (5x2 – 3x) +(5x – 3) 2x – 3x – 20
2

= 2x2 + 5x – 8x – 20
= x(5x – 3) + 1(5x –
3) = (2x 2
+ 5x) + (– 8x –
= (5x – 3)(x + 1) 20)
= x(2x + 5) – 4(2x +
= (2x + 5)(x – 4)
5)
Factor the quadratic trinomials.
1.x + 2x – 24
2
2.
2x + 7x + 3
2

-1 and 24 Sum = ac = 2(3) = 6

-2 and 12 Sum
23 = 1 and 6 Sum = 7 


-3 and 8 Sum
10 = 5


-4 and 6 Sum = 2 2x + 7x + 3

2

= 2x2 + 1x + 6x + 3

x + 2x – 24
= (2x + 1x) +(6x + 3)
2

=x - 4x +6x– 24
2
2

=(x2 - 4x ) + (6x– 24) = x(2x + 1) + 3(2x +

=x(x - 4 ) + 6(x– 4) 1)
= (2x + 1)(x + 3)
= (x – 4) (x + 6)
1. 15𝑥𝑦+10𝑦−18𝑥−12 =

=(15𝑥𝑦−18𝑥)+(10𝑦−12)
=

=(5𝑦−6)
3x(5y−6)+2(5y−6)

(3𝑥+2)
2. 6𝑥 +3𝑥𝑦+2𝑥+𝑦=
=(6𝑥2+2𝑥)
2

+(3𝑥y+𝑦)

2𝑥(3𝑥+1)+𝑦(3𝑥+1)
=

= (2𝑥+𝑦)(3𝑥+1)