College Algebra

Preface

Here are a set of problems for my Algebra notes. These problems do not have any solutions available on
this site. These are intended mostly for instructors who might want a set of problems to assign for turning
in. I try to put up both practice problems (with solutions available) and these problems at the same time
so that both will be available to anyone who wishes to use them.

2007 Paul Dawkins 1 http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/terms.aspx

 College Algebra

Factoring Polynomials
For problems 1 8 factor out the greatest common factor from each polynomial.

1. x 3 6 x8 + 10 x10

2. 25u 6 15u 5 + 30u 8

3. 2 y 6 z y 4 z10 + 3 y 2 z 2

4. 7 a10b 7 + 14a 8b9 35a 6b12

5. 3 ( 9 + 7 x ) ( 2 x )( 9 + 7 x )

( ) (
6. z 2 4 z z 3 + 7 z 3 4 z )
7. 8 y ( 2 y + 7 ) 2 y 3 ( 2 y + 7 )
4 9

( ) (8w 1) + 9 w (1 + w2 ) ( 8w 1)
4
8. w2 1 + w2
10 7

For problems 9 13 factor each of the following by grouping.

9. 18 x 2 x 3 + 9 x 2

10. 6 w4 + 3w3 14 w2 7 w

11. y 4 + y 3 + 9 y 3 + 9 y 2

12. 21x 56 x 4 12 x 3 + 32 x 6

13. 6t 3 + 3t 4 2t 5 t 6

For problems 14 32 factor each of the following.

14. x 2 10 x + 9

15. t 2 + 11t + 24

16. z 2 9 z 10

17. x 2 3 x 28

2007 Paul Dawkins 2 http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/terms.aspx

 College Algebra

18. x 2 + 10 x 24

19. w2 8w + 16

20. z 2 + 6 z + 9

21. x 2 144

22. 36 x 2

23. 4 z 2 23 z 6

24. 2 y 2 9 y + 10

25. 12 x 2 + 31x + 7

26. 6 z 2 35 z + 36

27. 8t 2 + 29t 12

28. 21 w 2 w2

29. 36v 2 49

30. 100 x 2 + 20 x + 1

31. 25 z 2 40 z + 16

32. 9 y 2 121

For problems 33 38 factor each of the following.

33. 4 x 3 20 x 2 144 x

34. t 4 + 15t 3 + 14t 2

35. 6u 8 3u 6 3u 4

36. t 8 + 5t 4 24

37. 2 z 4 5 z 2 12

38. 4 x 6 + x 3 5

For problems 39 & 40 determine the possible values of a for which the polynomial will factor.

2007 Paul Dawkins 3 http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/terms.aspx

 College Algebra

39. x 2 + ax 16

40. x 2 + ax + 20

For problems 41 44 use the knowledge of factoring that youve learned in this section to factor the
following expressions.

41. x 2 + 1 6 x 2

1
42. x 2 2 +
x2

49
43. x 4
x2

44. x 7 x 18

2007 Paul Dawkins 4 http://tutorial.math.lamar.edu/terms.aspx