Factoring
Factoring
Factoring
factors 2x3=6
factors
Factoring
Factoring (called "Factorising" in the UK) is the process of finding the factors:
2y is 2 × y
6 is 2 × 3
2y+6 = 2(y+3)
expand vs factor
Common Factor
But to do the job properly we need the highest common factor, including any variables
So we could have:
3y2+12y = 3(y2+4y)
3y2 is 3y × y
12y is 3y × 4
So we can factor the whole expression into:
3y2+12y = 3y(y+4)
The examples have been simple so far, but factoring can be very tricky.
Because we have to figure what got multiplied to produce the expression we are given!
factoring cake
Experience Helps
But knowing the Special Binomial Products gives us a clue called the "difference of squares":
difference of squares
So we have:
(a+b)(a−b) = a2 − b2
Yes!
So the factors of 4x2 − 9 are (2x+3) and (2x−3):
How can you learn to do that? By getting lots of practice, and knowing "Identities"!
Here is a list of common "Identities" (including the "difference of squares" used above).
factor expand
a2 − b2 = (a+b)(a−b)
a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a+b)(a+b)
a2 − 2ab + b2 = (a−b)(a−b)
a3 + b3 = (a+b)(a2−ab+b2)
a3 − b3 = (a−b)(a2+ab+b2)
a3+3a2b+3ab2+b3 = (a+b)3
a3−3a2b+3ab2−b3 = (a−b)3
There are many more like those, but those are the most useful ones.
Advice
See if it fits any of the identities, plus any more you may know
There are also Computer Algebra Systems (called "CAS") such as Axiom, Derive, Macsyma, Maple,
Mathematica, MuPAD, Reduce and many more that are good at factoring.
More Examples
Experience does help, so here are more examples to help you on the way:
Example: w4 − 16
w4 − 16 = (w2)2 − 42
w4 − 16 = (w2 + 4)(w2 − 4)
= 3u(u−2v)(u2+2uv+4v2)
Example: z3 − z2 − 9z + 9
z2(z−1) − 9(z−1)
(z2−9)(z−1)
And z2−9 is a difference of squares
(z−3)(z+3)(z−1)
. The product of two consecutive integers is 272. Find the value of each integer.
2. The product of two consecutive even integers is 528. Find the value of each integer.
3. A rectangular swimming pool is twice as long as it is wide. A small concrete walkway surrounds the
pool. The walkway is a constant 2 feet wide and has an area of 196 square feet. Find the dimensions of
the pool.
1. The product of two consecutive integers is 272. Find the value of each integer.
The product means to multiply so we need to multiply the two integers together.
(n)*(n + 1) = 272
n2 + n -272 = 0
(n + 17)(n – 16) = 0
n + 17 = 0 or n – 16 = 0
n = -17 or n = 16
Now you need to go back and answer the questions using each answer.
If n = -17 then the 2nd integer is n + 1 or -17 + 1 = -16 so the two integers are -17 and -16
If n = 16 then the 2nd integer is n + 1 or 16 + 1 = 17 so the two integers are 16 and 17.
(n)*(n + 2) = 528
n2 + 2n = 528
n2 + 2n -528 = 0
(n + 24)(n – 22) = 0
n + 24 = 0 or n – 22 = 0
n = -24 or n = 22
If n = -24 then the 2nd integer is n + 2 or -24 + 2 = -22 so the two integers are -24 and -22
If n = 22 then the 2nd integer is n + 2 or 22 + 2 = 24 so the two integers are 22 and 24.
3. A rectangular swimming pool is twice as long as it is wide. A small concrete walkway surrounds the
pool. The walkway is a constant 2 feet wide and has an area of 196 square feet. Find the dimensions of
the pool.
The first thing you need to do is to define your variables. In this example, the length is described in terms
of the width so define the width.
The problem says that the length is twice as long as the width and remember that twice means to
multiply by 2.
The pool has a concrete walkway of 2 feet surrounding it so this means that there is 2 feet on EACH SIDE
of the width and the length so we need to increase BOTH the length and width by 4 in order to get the
length and width of the pool and the walkway.
This means that the width is w + 4 and the length is 2w + 4. This means that the walkway and pool area
is: A = (w + 4)(2w + 4)
We are also given that the area of the walkway and the pool is 196 square feet.
In this case we have two areas. We have the area of the pool and the area of the walkway and pool (See
picture).
In order to find the dimensions we need to use the two different areas.
196 = 12w+ 16
180 = 12w
12 12
15 = w
So now we know that the width of the pool is 15 ft. But we aren’t done yet. The question asked for the
dimensions so we still need to find the length. The length is twice the width so 2 * 15 = 30ft.