Learning Activity Sheets for Week 1

A C T I V I T Y No. 1

Type of Activity : Concept Notes

Activity Title : Finding Common Monomial Factor
Learning Competency : The learner factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials with
common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and difference of two cubes, perfect square
trinomials, and general trinomials). M8AL-Ia-b-1
Learning Target : Determine the greatest common factor of polynomials
Reference : Mathematics Learner’s Module pp. 31
http://www.gradeamathhelp.com/greatest-common-factor.html

Greatest Common Factor (GCF)

Finding a greatest common factor (GCF) is the process of identifying what numbers and variables are group of terms has in
common - in other words, what do they share?
Before looking at some examples, let's break down the phrase:
Greatest = Largest Common = Shared Factor = Factored Piece

Example: 3x2 + 6x
Step 1: Factor each term completely. 
3•x•x + 3•2•x
Step 2: Find all factors that are in common (the same in all terms)
3•x•x + 3•2•x
Step 3: Pull out the GCF and then divide every term by it

Step 4: Simplify each term (perform the division)

3x(x + 2)

EXERCISES:
Complete the table to practice this type of factoring.
Polynomial Greatest Common Quotient of Polynomial Factored Form
Monomial Factor & CMF
6m + 8 2 3m + 4 2 ( 3m + 4 )
4mo (3m + o)
4mo2
2

4 3
27d o t a – 18d o t – 15d o
5 6 2 3 6 6 4
9d o t a – 6t – 5d
2 2 3 6 6 4

4(12) + 4(8)
4
12WI N – 16WIN + 20WINNER
3 5

A C T I V I T Y No. 2

Type of Activity : Concept Notes

Activity Title : Factoring the Difference of Two Squares
Learning Competency : The learner factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials with
common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and difference of two cubes, perfect square
trinomials, and general trinomials). M8AL-Ia-b-1
Learning Target : Find the factors of binomials
Reference : Mathematics Learner’s Module pp. 32 – 33
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/how-to-factor-the-difference-of-two-perfect-square.htm

An algebraic term is a perfect square when the numerical coefficient (the number in front of the
variables) is a perfect square and the exponents of each of the variables are even numbers.
If two terms in a binomial are perfect squares separated by subtraction, then you can factor them. To
factor the difference of two perfect squares, remember this rule: if subtraction separates two squared terms,
then the sum and the difference of the two square roots factor the binomial. For example:

Example 1:

1. Find the square roots of the two terms that are perfect squares.
The square roots of 9x2 and 16 are 3x and 4, respectively.
2. Write the factorization as the sum and difference of the square roots.
The sum of the roots is 3x + 4 and the difference between the roots is 3x – 4.

 EXERCISES
Give the factors of the following binomials:

1.) 4y2 – 81

2.) 25x2 – 1

3.) x2 - 9

4.) 64a2 – 16b2

A C T I V I T Y No. 3

Type of Activity : Concept Notes

Activity Title : Factoring Sum and Difference of Cubes
Learning Competency : The learner factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials with
common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and difference of two cubes, perfect square
trinomials, and general trinomials). M8AL-Ia-b-1
Learning Target : Find the factors of the sum and difference of cubes
Reference : Mathematics Learner’s Module pp. 17
http://www.purplemath.com/modules/specfact2.htm

The other two special factoring formulas are two sides of the same coin: the sum and difference of cubes. These
are the formula

a3 + b3 = (a + b)(a2 – ab + b2) 
a3 – b3 = (a – b)(a2 + ab + b2)

Example:
Factor x3 + 8
Solution:
- The cube root of x3 is x - The square of x is x2
- The cube root of 8 is 2 - The product of x and 2 is 2x with a negative sign
- The square of 2 is 4.
So, the binomial factor is (x + 2) So, the trinomial factor is (x2 – 2x + 4)

Therefore: the factor of x3 + 8 = (x + 2) (x2 – 2x + 4)

EXERCISES:

Factor the following:

1.) 27x3 + 64y3
2.) 125a3 – 1
3.) 1 + 729x3
4.) 1000 – 8b3

A C T I V I T Y No. 4

Type of Activity : Concept Notes

Activity Title : Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials
Learning Competency : The learner factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials with
common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and difference of two cubes, perfect square
trinomials, and general trinomials). M8AL-Ia-b-1
Learning Target : Give the factors of Perfect Square Trinomials
Reference : Mathematics Learner’s Module pp. 37 – 38
http://mathbitsnotebook.com/Algebra1/Factoring/FCPerfSqTri.html

Perfect-square trinomials" are quadratics that you got by squaring a binomial. For instance, (x + 5) 2 = (x + 5)(x
+ 5) = x2 + 10x + 25 is a perfect square trinomial.
(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2 
(a - b)2 = a2 - 2ab + b2
Notice the Pattern of the middle term: 
The middle term is twice the product of the binomial's first and last terms.
(a + b)² middle term +2ab
(a - b)² middle term -2ab 
In (a - b), the last term is -b.
Example: Factor: x2 + 12x + 36
Solution:
Does this fit the pattern of a perfect square trinomial? 
Yes. Both x2 and 36 are perfect squares, and 12x is twice the product of x and 6.
Since all signs are positive, the pattern is (a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2.
Let a = x and b = 6.
Answer: (x + 6)2 or (x + 6)(x + 6)

EXERCISES:
Supply the missing term to make a true statement.

1. m2 + 12m + 36 = (m + ___ )2
2. 16d2 – 24d + 9 = ( 4d – ___)2
3. a4b2 – 6abc + 9c2 = (a2b ___ ___)2
4. 9n2 + 30nd + 25d2 = (___ __ 5d)2
5. 49g2 – 84g + 36 = (___ __ ___)2
6. 121c4 + 66c2 + 9 = (___ __ ___)2

A C T I V I T Y No. 5

Type of Activity : Concept Notes

Activity Title : Factoring Trinomial whose leading coefficient is 1
Learning Competency : The learner factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials with
common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and difference of two cubes, perfect square
trinomials, and general trinomials). M8AL-Ia-b-1
Learning Target : Find the factors of trinomials
Reference : Mathematics Learner’s Module pp. 39 - 40
To factor trinomials with 1 as the numerical coefficient of the leading term:
a. factor the leading term of the trinomial and write these as the leading term of the factors;
b. list down all the factors of the last term;
c. identify which factor pair sums up to the middle term; then
d. write factor pairs as the last term of the binomial factors.

NOTE: ALWAYS PERFORM FACTORING USING GREATEST COMMON MONOMIAL FACTOR FIRST BEFORE
APPLYING ANY TYPE OF FACTORING.
Ex. Factor y2 + 4y – 21
Solution: a. List all the factors of – 21
Factors of 21
-3 7
-7 3
-21 1
-1 21
b. Find factors of -21 whose sum is 4.
• -3 + 7 = 4
• -7 + 3 = -4
• -21 + 1 = -20
• -1 + 21 = 20
c. Hence, the factors of y2+ 4y – 21 = (y – 3)( y + 7)

EXERCISES:
Find the factors of the following trinomials:
1.) x2 – 3x – 4 4.) x2 – 9x – 10

2.) x2 + 5x – 6 5.) x2 + 7x + 10

3.) x2 – 6x + 8

A C T I V I T Y No. 6

Type of Activity : Concept Notes

Activity Title : Factoring General Quadratic Trinomials
Learning Competency : The learner factors completely different types of polynomials (polynomials with
common monomial factor, difference of two squares, sum and difference of two cubes, perfect square
trinomials, and general trinomials). M8AL-Ia-b-1
Learning Target :  Factor polynomials of the form ax2 + bx + c  with a 1
Reference : Exploring Mathematics I Elementary Algebra pp. 538- 540

Factoring Trinomials
To factor a trinomial in the form ax2 + bx + c with a , find two integers, r and s, whose sum is b and
2 
whose product is ac. Rewrite the trinomial as ax + rx + sx + c and then use grouping and the Distributive
Property to factor the polynomial.
 

Let’s see how this strategy works by factoring 2x 2 + 11x + 5

In this trinomial, a = 2, b = 11, and c = 5. According to the strategy, we need to find two factors, r and s, whose sum
is b (11)
Solution:
a.) Since the trinomial has a positive constant term and a positive linear term, both factors of 5 will be
positive.
b.) List down the factors of 2x2 and 5
Factors of 2x3 Factors of 5

2x, x 1, 5
Possible Factors Linear Term
 ( 2x + 1) ( x + 5) (10 +1)x = 11x
( x + 1) ( 2x + 5) ( 5 + 2 )x = 7x

c.) The factors of 2x2 and 5 show that there are two possible arrangements of terms in the binomial
factors. Test the possibilities to see which arrangement produces the correct linear term, 11x. Since
( 2x + 1) ( x + 5) gives the correct linear term,
2x2 + 11x + 5 = (2x + 1) (x + 5)

EXERCISES:

Give the factors of the following trinomials.

1.) 6x2 – 26x - 20
2.) 2k2 – 11k + 12
3.) 6h2 – h – 2
4.) 2x2 + 6x + 3

A C T I V I T Y No. 7

Type of Activity : Skills : Problem Solving

Activity Title : Solving Geometrical Problems Using Factoring
Learning Competency : The learner solves problems involving factors of polynomials. M8AL-Ib-2
Learning Target :  Solve geometrical problems using factoring method
Reference : Intermediate Algebra pp.115 Fernando B. Orines, et al

Each time we expand our equation-solving capabilities, we gain more techniques for solving word
problems. Let’s solve a geometric problem with the ideas we learned in this section.

Example:
The area of a square is numerically equal to twice its perimeter. Find the length of a side of the square.
Solution:
Sketch a square and let s represent the length of each side (see Figure 5.1). Then the area is represented by
and the perimeter by 4s. Thus
Because 0 is not a reasonable answer to the problem, the solution
s2 = 2 (4s)
s2 = 8s
s2 – 8s = 0
s ( s – 8) = 0
s = 0; s - 8 = 0
s= 8
Because 0 is not a reasonable answer to the problem, the solution is 8. (Be sure to check this solution in the
original statement of the example!)

EXERCISES: Solve the following problems.

1.) The base of the triangle is 4 dm longer than the altitude, and its area is 16 dm 2. Find the lengths of the
base and the altitude.

2.) One side of a rectangle is 1 m less than the other. If the area of the rectangle is 60m 2, what are its
dimensions?

3.) The area of a square is numerically equal to five times its perimeter. Find the length of a side of the
square.
 A C T I V I T Y No. 8

Type of Activity : Skills : Solving Problems

Activity Title : Solving Number Problems Involving Quadratic Equations
Learning Competency : The learner solves problems involving factors of polynomials. M8AL-Ib-2
Learning Target :  Solve problems using factoring method.
Reference : Intermediate Algebra pp. 111-115 Fernando B. Orines, et al

Many problems in other fields can be solved by means of quadratic equations. After forming an
equation from the given information in the problem, the solution can be derived using the process discussed
in the preceding sections. It is always a good practice, then, to check the solutions to determine if one or both
may be used.

Example:
The sum of two numbers is 22 and the sum of their squares is 250. Find the numbers.
Solution:
Let x = one of the two numbers
22 – x = the other number
Equation:
x2 + ( 22 – x)2 = 250
Solving the equation; x2 + (22 – x)2 = 250
x2 + 484 – 44x + x2 = 250 Square the binomial
2
2x – 44x + 234 = 0 Combine similar terms
x2 – 22x + 117 = 0 Divide both sides by 2
( x – 13) ( x – 9) Factor the trinomial
x = 13 or x = 9 Solve the linear factor
Therefore, the numbers are 9 and 13.

EXERCISES:
Solve the following problems:
1.) The sum of two numbers is 16 and the sum of their squares is 146. Find the two numbers.

2.) The product of two consecutive integers is 47 more than the next consecutive integer. Find the two
integers.

3.) One number is three more than the second number. The sum of their squares is 37 more than the
product of the numbers. Find the numbers.