Exercises:

1. Factorize the following algebraic expressions:

(a) 6x + 24
(b) 8x2 − 4x
(c) 6xy + 10x2 y
(d) m4 − 3m2
(e) 6x2 + 8x + 12yx
For the following expressions, factorize the first pair, then the second pair:
(f) 8m2 − 12m + 10m − 15
(g) x2 + 5x + 2x + 10
(h) m2 − 4m + 3m − 12
(i) 2t2 − 4t + t − 2
(j) 6y 2 − 15y + 4y − 10

Section 2 Some standard factorizations

Recall the distributive laws of section 1.10.

Example 1 :

(x + 3)(x − 3) = x(x − 3) + 3(x − 3)

= x2 − 3x + 3x − 9
= x2 − 9
= x2 − 3 2

Example 2 :

(x + 9)(x − 9) = x(x − 9) + 9(x − 9)

= x2 − 9x + 9x − 81
= x2 − 81
= x2 − 9 2

Page 2
Exercises:

1. Expand the following, and collect like terms:

(a) (x + 2)(x − 2)
(b) (y + 5)(y − 5)
(c) (y − 6)(y + 6)
(d) (x + 7)(x − 7)
(e) (2x + 1)(2x − 1)
(f) (3m + 4)(3m − 4)
(g) (3y + 5)(3y − 5)
(h) (2t + 7)(2t − 7)

2. Factorize the following:

(a) x2 − 16 (e) 16 − y 2
(b) y 2 − 49 (f) m2 − 36
(c) x2 − 25 (g) 4m2 − 49
(d) 4x2 − 25 (h) 9m2 − 16

3. Expand the following and collect like terms:

(a) (x + 5)(x + 5) (e) (2m + 5)(2m + 5)

(b) (x + 9)(x + 9) (f) (t + 10)(t + 10)
(c) (y − 2)(y − 2) (g) (y + 8)2
(d) (m − 3)(m − 3) (h) (t + 6)2

4. Factorize the following:

(a) y 2 − 6y + 9 (e) m2 + 16m + 64

(b) x2 − 10x + 25 (f) t2 − 30t + 225
(c) x2 + 8x + 16 (g) m2 − 12m + 36
(d) x2 + 20x + 100 (h) t2 + 18t + 81

Page 4
Exercises:

1. Factorize the following quadratics:

(a) x2 + 4x + 3 (f) x2 − 14x + 24

(b) x2 + 15x + 44 (g) x2 − 7x + 10
(c) x2 + 11x − 26 (h) x2 − 5x − 24
(d) x2 + 7x − 30 (i) x2 + 2x − 15
(e) x2 + 10x + 24 (j) x2 − 2x − 15

The method that we have just described to factorize quadratics will work, if at all, only in the
case that the coefficient of x2 is 1. For other cases, we will need to factorize by

1. Using the ‘ACE’ method, or by

2. Using the quadratic formula

The ‘ACE’ method (pronounced a-c), unlike some other methods, is clear and easy to follow,
as each step leads logically to the next. If you can expand an expression like (3x + 4)(2x − 3),
then you will be able to follow this technique.

Page 7
 5. Factorize further:

4x(x + 5) + (x + 5) = (x + 5)(4x + 1)

Exercises:

1. Factorize the following quadratics using the ‘ACE’ method:

(a) 2x2 + 11x + 12 (f) 2x2 − 5x − 3

(b) 3x2 + 16x + 5 (g) 3x2 − 10x − 8
(c) 6x2 + 17x + 12 (h) 3x2 − 11x − 20
(d) 2x2 + 9x + 10 (i) 5x2 + 17x + 6
(e) 12x2 + 11x + 2 (j) 10x2 + 19x + 6

Section 5 The quadratic formula

When there is no obvious whole-number solution to the quadratic factorization, the quadratic
formula must be used. It can be shown by the method of completing the square that the
solutions to ax2 + bx + c = 0 are given by
√
−b ± b2 − 4ac
x=
2a
If we let the roots be k and l, say, then
√
−b +b2 − 4ac
k =
√2a
−b − b2 − 4ac
l =
2a
Then
ax2 + bx + c = a(x − k)(x − l)
When factorizing using this method be sure to multiply throughout by the coefficient of x2 .

Example 1 : Factorize x2 + 5x + 3. We try the ‘ACE’ method. The obvious factors

of 3x2 are 3x and 1x, which won’t add to 5x. We abandon this method, and go to

Page 9
Exercises:

1. Factorize the following quadratics using the quadratic formula:

(a) 3x2 + 2x − 4 (f) 5x2 + 7x − 2

(b) x2 + 3x + 1 (g) 3x2 + 5x − 4
(c) 2x2 + 8x + 3 (h) 2x2 + 4x + 1
(d) 3x2 + 5x + 1 (i) 5x2 + 2x − 2
(e) 3x2 + 6x + 2 (j) 2x2 + x − 7

Section 6 Uses of factorization

We can use factorization of expressions in a variety of ways. One way is to simplify algebraic
fractions.

Example 1 :
x2 − 9 (x − 3)(x + 3)
=
x−3 (x − 3)
x−3
= × (x + 3)
x−3
= x+3

Example 2 :
x x x x
+ = +
x2 + 4x + 4 x + 2 (x + 2) 2 x+2
x x x+2
= + ×
(x + 2)2 x + 2 x + 2
x x2 + 2x
= +
(x + 2)2 (x + 2)2
x2 + x + 2x
=
(x + 2)2
x(x + 3)
=
(x + 2)2

Another way of using factorization is in solving quadratic equations.

Page 11
 x2 −25
(g) x2 −3x−10
2x2 −32
(h) x2 +6x+8
x3 −9x2
(i) 3x−27
2x2 −x−6
(j) x2 +x−6

2. Simplify the following by first finding a common denominator:

3 5x
(a) x+2
+ x+3
4x 2
(b) x−5
− x+2
x+1 x+3
(c) x+2
+ x+4
6 2
(d) x2 +5x+6
+ x2 +8x+15
4 1
(e) x2 −3x−10
− x2 +5x+6
x+3 2
(f) x2 +6x+9
− x+3
x2 +8x+15 x+3
(g) x2 +7x+10
− x+2
x2 −9 x2
(h) 2x+6
− x−3
x 2x
(i) x+1
− x+3
3x
(j) x2 +6x
− 2x+1
x+6

3. Solve the following quadratic equations:

(a) x2 − 6x + 8 = 0 (f) 2x2 − x − 6 = 0

(b) x2 + 8x + 15 = 0 (g) 2x2 − 13x − 7 = 0
(c) x2 + 7x + 12 = 0 (h) 3x2 − 10x − 8 = 0
(d) x2 + 9x − 22 = 0 (i) 7x2 + 13x − 2 = 0
(e) x2 − 7x + 12 = 0 (j) x2 − 18x + 77 = 0

4. Solve the following equations using the quadratic formula. Write the answers to two
decimal places.

(a) x2 − 3x + 1 = 0 (c) 3x2 + 2x − 2 = 0

(b) 2x2 − 6x − 7 = 0 (d) 2x2 − 13x + 7 = 0

Page 13
 Section 7 Multiplication and Division of Algebraic Fractions

We are often able to use factorization when we are multiplying or dividing algebraic expressions.

Example 1 :
x2 − 16 x2 + 5x + 6 (x + 4)(x − 4) (x + 3)(x + 2)
× = ×
x+3 x+4 x+3 x+4
= (x − 4)(x + 2)

Example 2 :
2x2 + 12x + 16 4x2 − 100 2(x2 + 6x + 8) 4(x2 − 25)
× = ×
3x2 + 6x 6x + 30 3x(x + 2) 6(x + 5)
2(x + 4)(x + 2) 4(x + 5)(x − 5)
= ×
3x(x + 2) 6(x + 5)
4(x + 4)(x − 5)
=
9x

Example 3 :
6x2 + 9x 4x + 6 6x2 + 9x x2 − 9
÷ = ×
x2 + 8x + 15 x2 − 9 x2 + 8x + 15 4x + 6
3x(2x + 3) (x + 3)(x − 3)
= ×
(x + 3)(x + 5) 2(2x + 3)
3x(x − 3)
=
2(x + 5)

Exercises:

1. Simplify the following expressions:

2x2 −5x−3 x2 +4x
(a) x2 +2x
× 2x+1
3x+21 4x−12
(b) x2 −7x+12
× 9x+63
x2 +2x 2x2 −5x−12
(c) x2 +x−20
× 5x+10
3x2 −10x−8 2x2 −7x−4
(d) 5x−15
÷ x2 −3x
x2 −16 x2 +11x+28
(e) 4x2 −1
÷ 2x2 +5x+2

Page 14
 Exercises 2.6 Factorizing Algebraic Expressions

1. Expand

(a) (x + 2)(x − 2) (b) (2x + 4y)(2x − 4y)

2. Factorize

(a) 144x2 − y 2 (h) 2x2 + 7x + 3

(b) 16a2 − 9b2 (i) 5b2 + 17b + 6
(c) x2 + 7x + 10 (j) 18y 2 + 12y + 2
(d) b2 + 9b + 14 (k) 12x2 + 6x − 6
(e) x2 + 14x + 49 (l) 7a2 − 9a − 10
(f) x2 + x − 6 (m) −x2 − x + 2
(g) 2x3 + 10x2 − 48x (n) −2x2 + 3x + 2

3. (a) Factorize x2 + 5x + 3 using the quadratic formula.

(b) Factorize 2x2 − x − 1.
A2 −4
(c) Simplify 3A−6
.
2x2 −8
(d) Simplify 2x2 −x−6
.
x2 −x−6 2x2 y
(e) Simplify 2xy
× x2 −9
.
2x2 +5x−3 2 −1
(f) Simplify x3 +3x2 +2x
÷ x4x3 +2x2 .

3x
(g) Simplify x2 +6x+9
+ xx+3
2 −9 .

(h) Solve x2 + 2x − 3 = 0.

Page 15
Answers 2.6

Section 1

1. (a) 6(x + 4) (e) 2x(3x + 4 + 6y) (i) (t − 2)(2t + 1)

(b) 4x(2x − 1) (f) (4m + 5)(2m − 3) (j) (2y − 5)(3y + 2)
(c) 2xy(3 + 5x) (g) (x + 5)(x + 2)
(d) m2 (m2 − 3) (h) (m − 4)(m + 3)

Section 2

1. (a) x2 − 4 (d) x2 − 49 (g) 9y 2 − 25

(b) y 2 − 25 (e) 4x2 − 1
(c) y 2 − 36 (f) 9m2 − 16 (h) 4t2 − 49

2. (a) (x + 4)(x − 4) (d) (2x + 5)(2x − 5) (g) (2m + 7)(2m − 7)

(b) (y + 7)(y − 7) (e) (4 + y)(4 − y)
(c) (x + 5)(x − 5) (f) (m + 6)(m − 6) (h) (3m + 4)(3m − 4)

3. (a) x2 + 10x + 25 (d) m2 − 6m + 9 (g) y 2 + 16y + 64

(b) x2 + 18x + 81 (e) 4m2 + 20m + 25
(c) y 2 − 4y + 4 (f) t2 + 20t + 100 (h) t2 + 12t + 36

4. (a) (y − 3)2 (d) (x + 10)2 (g) (m − 6)2

(b) (x − 5)2 (e) (m + 8)2
(c) (x + 4)2 (f) (t − 15)2 (h) (t + 9)2

Section 3

1. (a), (b), (e), and (f)

Section 4 part 1

1. (a) (x + 3)(x + 1) (e) (x + 6)(x + 4)

(b) (x + 11)(x + 4)
(f) (x − 12)(x − 2)
(c) (x + 13)(x − 2)
(d) (x + 10)(x − 3) (g) (x − 5)(x − 2)

Page 16
 (h) (x − 8)(x + 3) (j) (x − 5)(x + 3)
(i) (x + 5)(x − 3)

Section 4 part 2

1. (a) (2x + 3)(x + 4) (f) (2x + 1)(x − 3)

(b) (3x + 1)(x + 5) (g) (3x + 2)(x − 4)
(c) (2x + 3)(3x + 4) (h) (3x + 4)(x − 5)
(d) (2x + 5)(x + 2) (i) (5x + 2)(x + 3)
(e) (3x + 2)(4x + 1) (j) (5x + 2)(2x + 3)

Section 5
√ √ √ √
−2+ 52 −2− 52 −7+ 89 −7− 89
1. (a) 3(x − 6
)(x − 6
) (f) 5(x − 10
)(x − 10
)
√ √ √ √
(b) (x − −3+2 5 )(x − −3−2 5 ) (g) 3(x − −5+ 73
6
)(x − −5−6 73 )
√ √ √ √
(c) 2(x − −8+4 40 )(x − −8−4 40 ) (h) 2(x − −4+ 8
4
)(x − −4− 8
4
)
√ √ √ √
(d) 3(x − −5+6 13 )(x − −5−6 13 ) (i) 5(x − −2+ 44
10
)(x − −2−10 44 )
√ √ √ √
(e) 3(x − −6+6 12 )(x − −6−6 12 ) (j) 2(x − −1+ 57
4
)(x − −1− 57
4
)

Section 6

x+1 x−4 x+5 x2

1. (a) x (c) 3
(e) 2
(g) x+2
(i) 3
3x2 −4 x+2 x−3 2(x−4) 2x+3
(b) x
(d) x+3
(f) 6 (h) x+2
(j) x+3

5x2 +13x+9 2(4x+17) −x2 −6x+9

2. (a) (x+2)(x+3)
(d) (x+2)(x+3)(x+5)
(h) 2(x−3)
3x+17
2(2x2 +3x+5) (e) (x+2)(x+3)(x−5) −x(x−1)
(b) (x+2)(x−5)
(i) (x+1)(x+3)
−1
(f) x+3
2(x2 +5x+5) −2(x−1)
(c) (x+2)(x+4) (g) 0 (j) (x+6)

3. (a) 4, 2 (c) −4, −3 (e) 4, 3 (g) 7, − 12 (i) −2, 1

7
3
(b) −5, −3 (d) −11, 2 (f) −2, 2
(h) 4, − 23 (j) 11, 7
√ √ √ √
3± 5 3 92 28 113
4. (a) 2
(b) 2
± 4
(c) − 13 ± 6
(d) 13
4
± 4

Page 17
Section 7

(x+4)(x−3) x(2x+3) (x−4)(x+2)

1. (a) x+2
(c) 5(x+5)
(e) (2x−1)(x+7)
4 x(3x+2)
(b) 3(x−4) (d) 5(2x+1)

Exercises 2.6

1. (a) x2 − 4 (b) 4x2 − 16y 2

2. (a) (12x − y)(12x + y) (h) (x + 3)(2x + 1)

(b) (4a − 3b)(4a + 3b) (i) (b + 3)(5b + 2)
(c) (x + 5)(x + 2) (j) 2(3y + 1)2
(d) (b + 7)(b + 2) (k) 6(x + 1)(2x − 1)
(e) (x + 7)2 (l) (7a + 5)(a − 2)
(f) (x + 3)(x − 2) (m) (x + 2)(1 − x)
(g) 2x(x − 3)(x + 8) (n) (2x + 1)(2 − x)
√ √
13 x(x+2)
3. (a) [x − ( −5−
√ 2
)][x −
√
( −5+2 13 )] or (e) x+3
( 2x+5+ 13 2x+5− 13
)( ) or
1
2 √ 2 √ (f) x(x+3)
4
(2x + 5 + 13)(2x + 5 − 13) (2x+1)(x+1)

(b) (2x + 1)(x − 1) 4x2 −3x+9

(g) (x+3)2 (x−3)
(c) A+2
3
2(x+2)
(d) 2x+3
(h) x = −3 or x = 1

Page 18