Factoring

Polynomials
 Chapter Sections
1 – The Greatest Common Factor
2 – Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2 + bx + c
3 – Factoring Trinomials of the Form ax2 + bx + c
4 – Factoring Trinomials of the Form x2 + bx + c by
Grouping
5 – Factoring Perfect Square Trinomials and
Difference of Two Squares

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 2

The Greatest Common
Factor
 Factors
Factors (either numbers or polynomials)
When an integer is written as a product of
integers, each of the integers in the product is a
factor of the original number.
When a polynomial is written as a product of
polynomials, each of the polynomials in the
product is a factor of the original polynomial.
Factoring – writing a polynomial as a product of
polynomials.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 4

 Greatest Common Factor
Greatest common factor – largest quantity that is a
factor of all the integers or polynomials involved.

Finding the GCF of a List of Integers or Terms

1) Prime factor the numbers.
2) Identify common prime factors.
3) Take the product of all common prime factors.
• If there are no common prime factors, GCF is 1.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 5

 Greatest Common Factor
Example
Find the GCF of each list of numbers.
1) 12 and 8
12 = 2 · 2 · 3
8=2·2·2
So the GCF is 2 · 2 = 4.
2) 7 and 20
7=1·7
20 = 2 · 2 · 5
There are no common prime factors so the
GCF is 1.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 6
 Greatest Common Factor
Example
Find the GCF of each list of numbers.
1) 6, 8 and 46
6=2·3
8=2·2·2
46 = 2 · 23
So the GCF is 2.
2) 144, 256 and 300
144 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 3 · 3
256 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · 2
300 = 2 · 2 · 3 · 5 · 5
So the GCF is 2 · 2 = 4.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 7
 Greatest Common Factor
Example
Find the GCF of each list of terms.
1) x3 and x7
x3 = x · x · x
x7 = x · x · x · x · x · x · x
So the GCF is x · x · x = x3
2) 6x5 and 4x3
6x5 = 2 · 3 · x · x · x
4x3 = 2 · 2 · x · x · x
So the GCF is 2 · x · x · x = 2x3
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 8
 Greatest Common Factor
Example
Find the GCF of the following list of terms.
a3b2, a2b5 and a4b7
a3b2 = a · a · a · b · b
a2b5 = a · a · b · b · b · b · b
a4b7 = a · a · a · a · b · b · b · b · b · b · b
So the GCF is a · a · b · b = a2b2
Notice that the GCF of terms containing variables will use the
smallest exponent found amongst the individual terms for each
variable.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 9
 Factoring Polynomials
The first step in factoring a polynomial is to
find the GCF of all its terms.
Then we write the polynomial as a product by
factoring out the GCF from all the terms.
The remaining factors in each term will form a
polynomial.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 10

 Factoring out the GCF
Example
Factor out the GCF in each of the following
polynomials.

1) 6x3 – 9x2 + 12x =

3 · x · 2 · x2 – 3 · x · 3 · x + 3 · x · 4 =
3x(2x2 – 3x + 4)
2) 14x3y + 7x2y – 7xy =
7 · x · y · 2 · x2 + 7 · x · y · x – 7 · x · y · 1 =
7xy(2x2 + x – 1)

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 11

 Factoring out the GCF
Example
Factor out the GCF in each of the following
polynomials.

1) 6(x + 2) – y(x + 2) =
6 · (x + 2) – y · (x + 2) =
(x + 2)(6 – y)
2) xy(y + 1) – (y + 1) =
xy · (y + 1) – 1 · (y + 1) =
(y + 1)(xy – 1)

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 12

 Factoring
Remember that factoring out the GCF from the terms of
a polynomial should always be the first step in factoring
a polynomial.
This will usually be followed by additional steps in the
process.
Example
Factor 90 + 15y2 – 18x – 3xy2.
90 + 15y2 – 18x – 3xy2 = 3(30 + 5y2 – 6x – xy2) =
3(5 · 6 + 5 · y2 – 6 · x – x · y2) =
3(5(6 + y2) – x (6 + y2)) =
3(6 + y2)(5 – x)
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 13
Factoring Trinomials of the
2
Form x + bx + c
 Factoring Trinomials
Recall by using the FOIL method that
F O I L
(x + 2)(x + 4) = x2 + 4x + 2x + 8
= x2 + 6x + 8
To factor x2 + bx + c into (x + one #)(x + another #),
note that b is the sum of the two numbers and c is the
product of the two numbers.
So we’ll be looking for 2 numbers whose product is
c and whose sum is b.
Note: there are fewer choices for the product, so
that’s why we start there first.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 15
 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial x2 + 13x + 30.
Since our two numbers must have a product of 30 and a
sum of 13, the two numbers must both be positive.
Positive factors of 30 Sum of Factors
1, 30 31
2, 15 17
3, 10 13
Note, there are other factors, but once we find a pair
that works, we do not have to continue searching.
So x2 + 13x + 30 = (x + 3)(x + 10).
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 16
 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial x2 – 11x + 24.
Since our two numbers must have a product of 24 and a
sum of -11, the two numbers must both be negative.
Negative factors of 24 Sum of Factors
– 1, – 24 – 25
– 2, – 12 – 14
– 3, – 8 – 11

So x2 – 11x + 24 = (x – 3)(x – 8).

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 17
 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial x2 – 2x – 35.
Since our two numbers must have a product of – 35 and a
sum of – 2, the two numbers will have to have different signs.
Factors of – 35 Sum of Factors
– 1, 35 34
1, – 35 – 34
– 5, 7 2
5, – 7 –2

So x2 – 2x – 35 = (x + 5)(x – 7).
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 18
 Prime Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial x2 – 6x + 10.
Since our two numbers must have a product of 10 and a
sum of – 6, the two numbers will have to both be negative.
Negative factors of 10 Sum of Factors
– 1, – 10 – 11
– 2, – 5 –7
Since there is not a factor pair whose sum is – 6,
x2 – 6x +10 is not factorable and we call it a prime
polynomial.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 19
 Check Your Result!

You should always check your factoring

results by multiplying the factored polynomial
to verify that it is equal to the original
polynomial.
Many times you can detect computational
errors or errors in the signs of your numbers
by checking your results.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 20

Factoring Trinomials of
2
the Form ax + bx + c
 Factoring Trinomials
Returning to the FOIL method,
F O I L
(3x + 2)(x + 4) = 3x2 + 12x + 2x + 8
= 3x2 + 14x + 8
To factor ax2 + bx + c into (#1·x + #2)(#3·x + #4), note
that a is the product of the two first coefficients, c is
the product of the two last coefficients and b is the
sum of the products of the outside coefficients and
inside coefficients.
Note that b is the sum of 2 products, not just 2
numbers, as in the last section.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 22

 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial 25x2 + 20x + 4.
Possible factors of 25x2 are {x, 25x} or {5x, 5x}.
Possible factors of 4 are {1, 4} or {2, 2}.
We need to methodically try each pair of factors until we find
a combination that works, or exhaust all of our possible pairs
of factors.
Keep in mind that, because some of our pairs are not identical
factors, we may have to exchange some pairs of factors and
make 2 attempts before we can definitely decide a particular
pair of factors will not work. Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 23
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
We will be looking for a combination that gives the sum of the
products of the outside terms and the inside terms equal to 20x.
Factors Factors Resulting Product of Product of Sum of
of 25x2 of 4 Binomials Outside Terms Inside Terms Products

{x, 25x} {1, 4} (x + 1)(25x + 4) 4x 25x 29x

(x + 4)(25x + 1) x 100x 101x
{x, 25x} {2, 2} (x + 2)(25x + 2) 2x 50x 52x
{5x, 5x} {2, 2} (5x + 2)(5x + 2) 10x 10x 20x
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 24
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Check the resulting factorization using the FOIL method.
F O I L
(5x + 2)(5x + 2) = 5x(5x) + 5x(2) + 2(5x) + 2(2)
= 25x2 + 10x + 10x + 4
= 25x2 + 20x + 4

So our final answer when asked to factor 25x2 + 20x + 4

will be (5x + 2)(5x + 2) or (5x + 2)2.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 25

 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial 21x2 – 41x + 10.
Possible factors of 21x2 are {x, 21x} or {3x, 7x}.
Since the middle term is negative, possible factors of 10
must both be negative: {-1, -10} or {-2, -5}.

We need to methodically try each pair of factors until

we find a combination that works, or exhaust all of our
possible pairs of factors.
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 26
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
We will be looking for a combination that gives the sum of
the products of the outside terms and the inside terms equal
to −41x.
Factors Factors Resulting Product of Product of Sum of
of 21x2 of 10 Binomials Outside Terms Inside Terms Products
{x, 21x}{1, 10}(x – 1)(21x – 10) –10x −21x – 31x
(x – 10)(21x – 1) –x −210x – 211x
{x, 21x} {2, 5} (x – 2)(21x – 5) –5x −42x – 47x
(x – 5)(21x – 2) –2x −105x – 107x
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 27
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Factors Factors Resulting Product of Product of Sum of
of 21x2 of 10 Binomials Outside Terms Inside Terms Products

{3x, 7x}{1, 10}(3x – 1)(7x – 10) −30x −7x −37x

(3x – 10)(7x – 1) −3x −70x −73x
{3x, 7x} {2, 5} (3x – 2)(7x – 5) −15x −14x −29x
(3x – 5)(7x – 2) −6x −35x −41x

Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 28
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Check the resulting factorization using the FOIL method.
F O I L
(3x – 5)(7x – 2) = 3x(7x) + 3x(-2) - 5(7x) - 5(-2)
= 21x2 – 6x – 35x + 10
= 21x2 – 41x + 10

So our final answer when asked to factor 21x2 – 41x + 10

will be (3x – 5)(7x – 2).
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 29
 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial 3x2 – 7x + 6.

The only possible factors for 3 are 1 and 3, so we know that, if

factorable, the polynomial will have to look like (3x )(x )
in factored form, so that the product of the first two terms in the
binomials will be 3x2.

Since the middle term is negative, possible factors of 6 must both

be negative: {−1, − 6} or {− 2, − 3}.
We need to methodically try each pair of factors until we find a
combination that works, or exhaust all of our possible pairs of
factors. Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 30
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
We will be looking for a combination that gives the sum of the
products of the outside terms and the inside terms equal to −7x.
Factors Resulting Product of Product of Sum of
of 6 Binomials Outside Terms Inside Terms Products

{−1, −6} (3x – 1)(x – 6) −18x −x −19x

(3x – 6)(x – 1) Common factor so no need to test.
{−2, −3} (3x – 2)(x – 3) −9x −2x −11x
(3x – 3)(x – 2) Common factor so no need to test.
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 31
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued

Now we have a problem, because we have

exhausted all possible choices for the factors,
but have not found a pair where the sum of the
products of the outside terms and the inside
terms is –7.
So 3x2 – 7x + 6 is a prime polynomial and will
not factor.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 32

 Factoring Polynomials
Example
Factor the polynomial 6x2y2 – 2xy2 – 60y2.

Remember that the larger the coefficient, the greater the

probability of having multiple pairs of factors to check.
So it is important that you attempt to factor out any
common factors first.
6x2y2 – 2xy2 – 60y2 = 2y2(3x2 – x – 30)
The only possible factors for 3 are 1 and 3, so we know
that, if we can factor the polynomial further, it will have to
look like 2y2(3x )(x ) in factored form. Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 33
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Since the product of the last two terms of the binomials
will have to be –30, we know that they must be
different signs.
Possible factors of –30 are {–1, 30}, {1, –30}, {–2, 15},
{2, –15}, {–3, 10}, {3, –10}, {–5, 6} or {5, –6}.

We will be looking for a combination that gives the sum

of the products of the outside terms and the inside terms
equal to –x.
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 34
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Factors Resulting Product of Product of Sum of
of -30 Binomials Outside Terms Inside Terms Products
{-1, 30} (3x – 1)(x + 30) 90x -x 89x
(3x + 30)(x – 1) Common factor so no need to test.
{1, -30} (3x + 1)(x – 30) -90x x -89x
(3x – 30)(x + 1) Common factor so no need to test.
{-2, 15} (3x – 2)(x + 15) 45x -2x 43x
(3x + 15)(x – 2) Common factor so no need to test.
{2, -15} (3x + 2)(x – 15) -45x 2x -43x
(3x – 15)(x + 2) Common factor so no need to test.
Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 35
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Factors Resulting Product of Product of Sum of
of –30 Binomials Outside Terms Inside Terms Products
{–3, 10} (3x – 3)(x + 10) Common factor so no need to test.
(3x + 10)(x – 3) –9x 10x x
{3, –10} (3x + 3)(x – 10) Common factor so no need to test.
(3x – 10)(x + 3) 9x –10x –x

Continued.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 36
 Factoring Polynomials
Example Continued
Check the resulting factorization using the FOIL method.
F O I L
(3x – 10)(x + 3) = 3x(x) + 3x(3) – 10(x) – 10(3)
= 3x2 + 9x – 10x – 30
= 3x2 – x – 30
So our final answer when asked to factor the polynomial
6x2y2 – 2xy2 – 60y2 will be 2y2(3x – 10)(x + 3).

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 37

Factoring Trinomials of
2
the Form x + bx + c
by Grouping
 Factoring by Grouping
Factoring polynomials often involves additional
techniques after initially factoring out the GCF.
One technique is factoring by grouping.
Example
Factor xy + y + 2x + 2 by grouping.
Notice that, although 1 is the GCF for all four
terms of the polynomial, the first 2 terms have a
GCF of y and the last 2 terms have a GCF of 2.
xy + y + 2x + 2 = x · y + 1 · y + 2 · x + 2 · 1 =
y(x + 1) + 2(x + 1) = (x + 1)(y + 2)
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 39
 Factoring by Grouping
Factoring a Four-Term Polynomial by Grouping
1) Arrange the terms so that the first two terms have a
common factor and the last two terms have a common
factor.
2) For each pair of terms, use the distributive property to
factor out the pair’s greatest common factor.
3) If there is now a common binomial factor, factor it out.
4) If there is no common binomial factor in step 3, begin
again, rearranging the terms differently.
• If no rearrangement leads to a common binomial
factor, the polynomial cannot be factored.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 40

 Factoring by Grouping
Example
Factor each of the following polynomials by grouping.
1) x3 + 4x + x2 + 4 = x · x2 + x · 4 + 1 · x2 + 1 · 4 =
x(x2 + 4) + 1(x2 + 4) =
(x2 + 4)(x + 1)
2) 2x3 – x2 – 10x + 5 = x2 · 2x – x2 · 1 – 5 · 2x – 5 · (– 1) =
x2(2x – 1) – 5(2x – 1) =
(2x – 1)(x2 – 5)

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 41

 Factoring by Grouping
Example
Factor 2x – 9y + 18 – xy by grouping.
Neither pair has a common factor (other than 1).
So, rearrange the order of the factors.
2x + 18 – 9y – xy = 2 · x + 2 · 9 – 9 · y – x · y =
2(x + 9) – y(9 + x) =
2(x + 9) – y(x + 9) = (make sure the factors are identical)
(x + 9)(2 – y)

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 42

Factoring Perfect Square
Trinomials and the
Difference of Two Squares
 Perfect Square Trinomials

Recall that in our very first example in Section

4.3 we attempted to factor the polynomial
25x2 + 20x + 4.
The result was (5x + 2)2, an example of a
binomial squared.
Any trinomial that factors into a single
binomial squared is called a perfect square
trinomial.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 44

 Perfect Square Trinomials
In the last chapter we learned a shortcut for squaring a
binomial
(a + b)2 = a2 + 2ab + b2
(a – b)2 = a2 – 2ab + b2
So if the first and last terms of our polynomial to be
factored are can be written as expressions squared, and
the middle term of our polynomial is twice the product
of those two expressions, then we can use these two
previous equations to easily factor the polynomial.
a2 + 2ab + b2 = (a + b)2
a2 – 2ab + b2 = (a – b)2
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 45
 Perfect Square Trinomials
Example
Factor the polynomial 16x2 – 8xy + y2.
Since the first term, 16x2, can be written as (4x)2, and
the last term, y2 is obviously a square, we check the
middle term.
8xy = 2(4x)(y) (twice the product of the expressions
that are squared to get the first and last terms of the
polynomial)
Therefore 16x2 – 8xy + y2 = (4x – y)2.
Note: You can use FOIL method to verify that the
factorization for the polynomial is accurate.
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 46
 Difference of Two Squares

Another shortcut for factoring a trinomial is when we

want to factor the difference of two squares.
a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a – b)
A binomial is the difference of two square if
1.both terms are squares and
2.the signs of the terms are different.

9x2 – 25y2
– c4 + d4
Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 47
 Difference of Two Squares
Example
Factor the polynomial x2 – 9.

The first term is a square and the last term, 9, can be

written as 32. The signs of each term are different, so
we have the difference of two squares
Therefore x2 – 9 = (x – 3)(x + 3).
Note: You can use FOIL method to verify that the
factorization for the polynomial is accurate.

Martin-Gay, Developmental Mathematics 48