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Instructor: C. St.Denis
and
a 2 b 2 = ( a b)( a + b)
a 2 + b 2 is NOT factorable
Factoring, among other benefits, helps us simplify division of polynomials such as:
x2 4
x2
Instead of trying to do the long division, lets see if we can factor the numerator so we can cancel some
things out:
x2 4
( x 2 )( x + 2 )
=
= x + 2
x 2
(x 2)
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MAT 0024
Example:
2 x5 8x3 =
2 x 3 ( x 2 4) =
2 x 3 ( x + 2)( x 2)
3x 4 18 x 3 + 27 x 2 =
3x 2 ( x 2 6 x + 9) =
3x 2 ( x 3) 2
6a 2 11a + 4 =
6a 2 3a 8a + 4 =
( 6a 2 3a) + (8a + 4) =
3a( 2a 1) + ( 4)( 2a 1) =
(3a 4)( 2a 1)
xy + 8x + 3 y + 24 =
( xy + 8 x) + (3 y + 24) =
x ( y + 8) + 3( y + 8) =
( x + 3)( y + 8)
2 ab 5 + 8ab 4 + 2ab 3 =
2 ab 3 ( b 2 + 4b + 1)
x 2 + 5x + 6 =
( x + 3)( x + 2)
MAT 0024
Ch 13 Factoring Review Worksheet
Instructor: C. St.Denis
Factor the following polynomials using the strategy and examples above:
Polynomial:
Factored form:
12a 2b 2 3ab
4x 2 9
x 2 16y 2
x 2 4 x + 2 xy 8 y
x 2 9 x + 20
9 x 2 12x + 4
8x 3 x 2
x 2 + 49
16x 3 + 16x 2 + 3 x
x 2 9 x + 18
6 x 2 + 13x + 6
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MAT 0024
Instructor: C. St.Denis
2x 2 + 3x 2
5 x 2 22x 15
3x 3 + 9 x 2 12x
x 2 + 3x 28
x 2 8 x + 16
4 x 2 7 xy + 3 y 2
x 3 xy + x 2 y
8x 2 6 x 2
x 4 11x 3 + 24x 2
6 x 4 y 5 2 x 2 y 3 + 14 x 3 y 4
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