Factoring 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.
Formula:
𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦) (𝑥 + 𝑦) = (𝑥 + 𝑦)2
𝑥2 - 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2 = (𝑥 - 𝑦) (𝑥 - 𝑦) = (𝑥 - 𝑦)2
To factor perfect square trinomials:
1. Get the square root of the first and last terms √ x 2 = x √ y2 = y
2. List down the square root as sum or difference of two terms
If the trinomial is 𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2, then you list down the factor in this form (x + y) (x + y) or (x + y)2
Example:
Factor 4x2-4x+1
a. Square root of the first term: √ 4 x 2 = 2𝑥
b. Square root of the last term: √1 = 1
c. The polynomial is factored as (2𝑥 − 1) (2𝑥 − 1) 𝑜𝑟 (2𝑥 − 1)2
Factoring General Trinomial 𝒂𝒙2 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄, where 𝒂 = 1.
Let us study first how factoring general trinomials 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 whose leading coefficient a is 1 being
factored.
Steps To factor a General Trinomial:
a. list all the possible factors of c;
b. find the factors of c whose sum is equal to constant b; and,
c. express the binomial factors of the trinomial.
Example: Factor 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 6
a. Copy the first variable x
b. List all possible factors of 6
Factors of 6
1 6
-1 -6
2 3
-2 -3
c. Find the factor of 6 whose sum is equal to 5
Factors of 6 Sum
1 6 7
-1 -6 -7
2 3 5
-2 -3 -5
d. Express the binomial factors of the trinomial
(x+2) (x+3)
Thus, the factor of 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 6 is (x+2)(x+3) or 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 6 = (x+2)(x+3)
Factor of the General Trinomial 𝒂𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄, where 𝒂 > 𝟏
Now, let us study more how general trinomial is factored when the leading coefficient a is greater than 1
through inspection by trial and error.
Steps to factor polynomials by Trial and Error:
1. List all the possible factors of first and last terms
2. Determine the middle term by trial and error using the possible factors in the first step.
3. Determine the factors of the general trinomial based on the answer in the second step.
Illustrative Example:
Factor 2𝑥2 + 7𝑥 + 5
Solution:
1. List all the possible factors of 2x2 and 5
2x2 5
(x) (2x) 1 , 5
(-1),(-5)
2. Determine the middle term by trial and error using the possible factors in the first step.
Possible factors Sum of the product of the outer terms and the product of the inner terms
(𝑥 + 1) (2𝑥 + 5) 5𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 7
(𝑥 + 5) (2𝑥 + 1) 𝑥 + 10𝑥 = 11
(𝑥 − 1) (2𝑥 − 5) − 5𝑥 − 2𝑥 = −7
(𝑥 − 5) (2𝑥 − 1) −𝑥 − 10𝑥 = −11
3. Thus, the factors of 2𝑥2 + 7𝑥 + 5 are (𝑥 + 1) (2𝑥 + 5)
Factoring Perfect Square Trinomial
Perfect square trinomial is the result of squaring a binomial. If x=0,just get the
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.
And so we come up with this formula
Formula:
𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2 = (𝑥 + 𝑦) (𝑥 + 𝑦) = (𝑥 + 𝑦)2
𝑥2 - 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2 = (𝑥 - 𝑦) (𝑥 - 𝑦) = (𝑥 - 𝑦)2
To factor perfect square trinomials:
1. Get the square root of the first and last terms √ x 2 = x √ y2 = y
2. List down the square root as sum or difference of two terms
If the trinomial is 𝑥2 + 2𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦2, then you list down the factor in this form (x + y) (x + y) or (x + y)2
Example:
Factor 4x2-4x+1
a. Square root of the first term: √ 4 x 2 = 2𝑥
b. Square root of the last term: √1 = 1
c. The polynomial is factored as (2𝑥 − 1) (2𝑥 − 1) 𝑜𝑟 (2𝑥 − 1)2
lets try!
1. X2 - 2x + 1
2. X2 - 20x + 100
3. 9X2 + 12x + 4
Now let us proceed to our next lesson..
Factoring General Trinomial 𝒂𝒙 𝟐 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄, where 𝒂 = 1.
Let us study first how factoring general trinomials 𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 whose leading coefficient a is 1 being
factored. (kaganina atong gikuha ang square roots, karon ato silang e factor)
Steps To factor a General Trinomial:
a. list all the possible factors of c;
b. find the factors of c whose sum is equal to constant b; and,
c. express the binomial factors of the trinomial.
Example: Factor 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 6
a. Copy the first variable x
b. List all possible factors of 6
Factors of 6
1 6
-1 -6
2 3
-2 -3
c. Find the factor of 6 whose sum is equal to 5
Factors of 6 Sum
1 6 7
-1 -6 -7
2 3 5
-2 -3 -5
d. Express the binomial factors of the trinomial
(x+2) (x+3)
Thus, the factor of 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 6 is (x+2)(x+3) or 𝑥2 + 5𝑥 + 6 = (x+2)(x+3)
Lets try this!
1. 𝑥2 + 7𝑥 + 12
2. 𝑥2 - 2𝑥 -15
Factor of the General Trinomial 𝒂𝒙2 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄, where 𝒂 > 𝟏
Now, let us study more how general trinomial is factored when the leading coefficient a is greater than 1
through inspection by trial and error.
Steps to factor polynomials by Trial and Error:
1. List all the possible factors of first and last terms
2. Determine the middle term by trial and error using the possible factors in the first step.
3. Determine the factors of the general trinomial based on the answer in the second step.
Illustrative Example:
Factor 2𝑥2 + 7𝑥 + 5
Solution:
1. List all the possible factors of 2x2 and 5
2x2 5
(x) (2x) 1 , 5
(-1),(-5)
2. Determine the middle term by trial and error using the possible factors in the first step.
Possible factors Sum of the product of the outer terms and the product of the inner terms
(𝑥 + 1) (2𝑥 + 5) 5𝑥 + 2𝑥 = 7
(𝑥 + 5) (2𝑥 + 1) 𝑥 + 10𝑥 = 11
(𝑥 − 1) (2𝑥 − 5) − 5𝑥 − 2𝑥 = −7
(𝑥 − 5) (2𝑥 − 1) −𝑥 − 10𝑥 = −11
3. Thus, the factors of 2𝑥 2 + 7𝑥 + 5 are (𝑥 + 1) (2𝑥 + 5)
Direction: Factor out each polynomial completely by using the appropriate technique in factoring
polynomials. Select the correct factors outside the table and write it beside its corresponding
polynomials.
Polynomials
1.) 25x2 – 1
2.) 2x + 2y
3.) u3 – 64
4.) 4x2 – 49
5.) 12x3 – 16x6
(5x + 1)(5x – 1) (2x + 7)(2x – 7)
(u - 4)(u2 + 4u + 16)
2(x + y) 4x3(3x – 4x3)
Direction: Factor out each polynomial completely by using the appropriate technique in factoring
polynomials. Select the correct factors outside the table and write it beside its corresponding
polynomials.
Polynomials
1.) 25x2 – 1
2.) 2x + 2y
3.) u3 – 64
4.) 4x2 – 49
5.) 12x3 – 16x6
(5x + 1)(5x – 1) (2x + 7)(2x – 7)
(u - 4)(u2 + 4u + 16)
2(x + y) 4x3(3x – 4x3)
