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LESSON 1. Factoring A Perfect Square Trinomial

The document describes how to factor perfect square trinomials. It defines a perfect square trinomial as having first and last terms that are perfect squares, and a middle term that is twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms. It provides two relationships for factoring perfect square trinomials depending on whether the middle term is positive or negative. Examples are worked through step-by-step to demonstrate factoring various perfect square trinomials. Common factors are distributed out first before applying the factoring relationships.

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Elizabeth Saldia
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65 views2 pages

LESSON 1. Factoring A Perfect Square Trinomial

The document describes how to factor perfect square trinomials. It defines a perfect square trinomial as having first and last terms that are perfect squares, and a middle term that is twice the product of the square roots of the first and last terms. It provides two relationships for factoring perfect square trinomials depending on whether the middle term is positive or negative. Examples are worked through step-by-step to demonstrate factoring various perfect square trinomials. Common factors are distributed out first before applying the factoring relationships.

Uploaded by

Elizabeth Saldia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 1: Factoring a Perfect Square Trinomial

Perfect square trinomial


– is the result of squaring a binomial. A perfect square trinomial has first and last terms which are
perfect squares and a middle term which is twice the product of the square root of the first and
last terms.

To factor perfect square trinomials:


1. Get the square root of the first and last terms.
2. List down the square root as sum/difference of two terms as the case may be.

You can use the following relationships to factor perfect square trinomials:

(First term)2 + 2(First term) (Last term) + (Last term)2 = (First term + Last term)2
(First term)2 – 2(First term) (Last term) + (Last term)2 = (First term – Last term)2

Remember to factor out first the greatest common monomial factor before factoring the perfect
square trinomial.

Example 1. Factor n2 + 16n + 64


Solution: Following the relationships to factor perfect square trinomials,

(First term)2 + 2(First term) (Last term) + (Last term)2 = (First term + Last term)2
(n)2 + 2(n) (8) + (8)2 = (n + 8 )2

Thus, the factor of n2 + 16n + 64 is (n + 8)2.

Discussion:
a. Since n2 = (n)2 and 64 = (8)2, then both the first and last terms are perfect squares. And 2(n)(8) =
16n, then the given expression is a perfect square trinomial.
b. The square root of the first term is n and the square root of the last term is 8. The polynomial is
factored as (n+8)2.

Example 2. Factor 4r2 – 12r + 9


Solution: Following the relationships to factor perfect square trinomial,

(First term)2 - 2(First term) (Last term) + (Last term)2 = (First term - Last term)2
(2r)2 - 2(2r) (3) + (3)2 = (2r – 3)2

Thus, the factor of 4r2 – 12r + 9 is (2r - 3)2.

Discussion:
a. Since 4r2 = (2r)2 and 9 = (3)2, then both the first and last terms are perfect squares. And 2(2r) (3)
=12r, then the given expression is a perfect square trinomial.
b. The square root of the first term is 2r and the square root of the last term is 3. The polynomial is
factored as (2r - 3)2.
Example 3. Factor 75t3 + 30t2+ 3t
Solution:
1. Notice that 3t is common to all terms, thus, factoring it out first we have:

75t 3 30 t 2 3t
+ +
3t 3t 3t

Thus, 75t3 + 30t2 + 3t = 3t (25t2 + 10t + 1).

2. Following the relationships to factor perfect square trinomials,

(First term)2 + 2(First term) (Last term) + (Last term)2 = (First term + Last term)2
(5t)2 + 2(5t) (1) + (1)2 = (5t + 1)2

Thus, the factors of 75t3 + 30t2+ 3t are 3t (5t + 1)2.


Discussion:
a. Notice that 25t2 = (5t)2 and 1 = (1)2, and 10t = 2(5t) (1), then 25t2 + 10t + 1 is a perfect square
trinomial.
b. Factoring 25t2 + 10t + 1 is (5t + 1)2, thus, the factors of 75t3 + 30t2+ 3t are 3t (5t + 1)2.

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