0 A Review of Basic

Algebra

Edited by Dr. Janice Tan

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

0.5 Factoring Polynomials

Copyright © Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Objectives
1. Factor out the greatest common factor.

2. Factor by grouping.

3. Factor the difference of two squares.

4. Factor trinomials.

5. Factor trinomials by grouping.

6. Factor the sum and difference of two cubes.

7. Factor miscellaneous polynomials.

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Factoring Polynomials (1 of 1)
In this section, we will discuss factoring where the
coefficients of the polynomial and the polynomial factors are
integers. If a polynomial cannot be factored by using
integers only, we call it a prime polynomial.

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1. Factor Out the Greatest
Common Factor

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Example 1 – Factoring by Removing the GCF

Factor:

Solution:
We note that each term contains a greatest common factor
of 3x:

We can then use the Distributive Property to factor out the

common factor of 3x:

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Exe 0.5
In each expression, factor out the greatest common
monomial.

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2. Factor by Grouping

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Example 3 – Factoring by Grouping
Factor: ax + bx + a + b.

Solution:
Although there is no factor common to all four terms, we can
factor x out of the first two terms and write the expression as
ax + bx + a + b = x(a + b) + (a + b)

We can now factor out the common factor of a + b.

ax + bx + a + b = x(a + b) + (a + b)
= x(a + b) + 1(a + b)
= (a + b)(x + 1)

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Exe 0.5
In each expression, factor by grouping.

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3. Factor the Difference of Two
Squares

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Factor the Difference of Two Squares (1 of 1)

Factoring the Difference of Two Squares

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Example 6 – Removing a GCF and Factoring the Difference of Two Squares

Factor:

Solution:
We begin by factoring out the common monomial factor of 2.

Since 16 is the difference of two squares, it can be

factored.

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Exe 0.5
In each expression, factor the difference of two squares.

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4. Factor Trinomials

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Factor Trinomials (1 of 3)
Factoring Trinomial Squares

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Watch Video

Sec 4: Factor trinomial of the form 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

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Factor a trinomial with leading coefficient 1

Factor 𝑥 2 + 3𝑥 − 10.

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Factor a trinomial with leading coefficient 1

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Factor Trinomials (2 of 3)
Strategy for Factoring a General Trinomial with Integer
Coefficients
1. Write the trinomial in descending powers of one variable.

2. Factor out any greatest common factor, including −1 if that

is necessary to make the coefficient of the first term
positive.

3. When the sign of the first term of a trinomial is + and the

sign of the third term is +, the sign between the terms of
each binomial factor is the same as the sign of the middle
term of the trinomial.

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Factor Trinomials (3 of 3)
When the sign of the first term is + and the sign of the third
term is −, one of the signs between the terms of the
binomial factors is + and the other is −.

4. Try various combinations of first terms and last terms until

you find one that works. If no possibilities work, the
trinomial is prime.

5. Check the factorization by multiplication.

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Watch video

Sec 4: Factor trinomial of the form 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐

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Example 9 – Factoring a Trinomial Completely

Factor:

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Exe 0.5
In each expression, factor the trinomial.

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27
5. Factor Trinomials by
Grouping

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Example 10 – Factoring a Trinomial by Grouping

Factor:

Solution:
Since a = 15 and c = −2 in the trinomial, ac = −30. We now
find factors of −30 whose sum is b = 1. Such factors are 6
and −5. We use these factors as coefficients of two terms to
be placed between and −2.

Finally, we factor by grouping.

3x(5x + 2) −1(5x + 2) = (5x + 2)(3x − 1)

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 6. Factor the Sum and
Difference of Two Cubes

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Factor the Sum and Difference of Two Cubes (1 of 1)

Factoring the Sum and Difference of Two Cubes

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Example 11 – Factoring the Sum of Two Cubes

Factor:

Solution:
We can write this expression as the sum of two cubes and
factor it as follows.

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Exe 0.5

Factor the sum of two cubes.

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Exe 0.5

Factor the difference of two cubes.

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7. Factor Miscellaneous
Polynomials

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36
Factor Miscellaneous Polynomials (1 of 2)

Factoring Strategy
1. Factor out all common monomial factors.

2. If an expression has two terms, check whether the

problem type is
a. The difference of two squares:

b. The sum of two cubes:

c. The difference of two cubes:

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Factor Miscellaneous Polynomials (2 of 2)

3. If an expression has three terms, try to factor it as a

trinomial.

4. If an expression has four or more terms, try factoring by

grouping.

5. Continue until each individual factor is prime.

6. Check the results by multiplying.

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Exe 0.5
Factor each expression completely. If an expression is
a prime, so indicate.

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Exe 0.5
Factor each expression completely. If an expression is
a prime, so indicate.

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