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5.5 – Factoring Polynomials
Textbook:
Intermediate Algebra
Aufmann and Lockwood
9E AIM
Intermediate Algebra ‐ Thu, Mar 23 2017 P a g e | 2 of 3
Factoring Polynomials: with the smallest exponents. Let’s review
One number is a factor of another when it can that.
be divided into that other number with a Expression Factorized
reminder of zero. e.g., 4 is a factor of 12, 16 2
because 12/4 = 3 and the reminder is zero. 5 is 40 2 ∙5
not a factor of 12 because 12/5 is 2, with a GCF 2
remainder of 2. 2. Note that the terms highlighted in blue are
Factoring a number means determining its the common terms with the smallest
prime factors. e.g., the prime factors of 12 are exponents. 5 was left out because it is not
2*2*3 or 2 ∗ 3. Each of those numbers is common to both.
prime and can’t be factored any more. Why is that usefull?
Factoring a polynomial means much the same Let’s suppose you need to factor the following
thing. e.g., let’s suppose I ask you to factor expression: 16 40 . To factor it you
4. The result would be: need to take out the largest common factors to
both. It would be: 2 , and the factorized
2 2 expression would be 2 2 5 . Both
Note that their multiplication lead to the expressions are equivalent, but the later is
original expression, but those individual factors factorized.
can’t be separated any more as a product. Example 5.5.1 – Factor 4 12 20
Don’t worry if you still don’t get how I knew The expression can be expressed as:
the factors. You’ll learn it later. The important
2 2 ∙3 2 ∙5
thing now is to grasp the concept and make the
connection to the techniques learned Note that only 2 4 is common to all 3.
previously to factor integers into their prime Hence, the expression factors as:
factors. Consider this other case: 16 4 3 5
It can be expressed as 4 4 . The Factorization by Grouping:
right term can’t be factored any more, but the You use the distributive property to find a
left term can be expressed as 2 2 . common binomial factor. Sometimes it
So, the final result is: requires regrouping terms.
16 2 2 4 Example 5.5.2 – Factor 4 2 3 5 2 3
There are many techniques to factor Note that you can take out the common
polynomials. One of them is the Greatest binomial factor 2 3 . You’re left with
Common Factor (GCF). Let’s suppose you have 2 3 4 5
a pair of monomials 16 and 40 , and Example 5.5.3 – Factor 6 7
need to find the GCF. Note that is the same as .
1. Find the prime factors of the integers and Applying that, you get 6 7 .
keep the ones with the lowest exponents. Now you can get as a common factor.
16 factors as 2 , while 40 The result is: 6 7
factors as 2 ∙ 5 . The GCF between the Example 5.5.4 – Factor 3 4 3 4
two is the product of the common factors At first, it doesn’t appear to be any obvious
grouping. However, if look closely at the terms,
Intermediate Algebra ‐ Thu, Mar 23 2017 P a g e | 3 of 3
3x and 4y seems to be hidden in there. What if What it means is that:
you regroup the expression as 3 4 3 11 8 3 8
3 4 . From the first group you can a z The next step is to factor by grouping:
out and from the 2nd you can an “a” out, leaving
3 8 3 8 3 3 8 8
the expression as: 3 4 3 4 .
3 1 8 1
Now I got the right grouping but the signs appear
1 3 8
inverted. So, let’s get a ‐1 out of the 2nd group:
3 4 3 4
Now it is set. Take 3 4 as common factor
and apply the distributive property:
3 4 .
Factor a Trinomial of the Form :
The trick is to decompose into two factors
whose sum equals b. e.g., factor 3 2
Note that 2 times 1 equals 2, and that 2+1
equals 3, but we need negative 3, hence, we
can use ‐2 times ‐1. Which means that
3 2 factors as 2 1 .
The trick here is that the larger is, the more
factors you have to consider. Practice is key to
d‐evelop that skill.
Example 5.5.5 – Factor 7 12
I need 2 factors of 12 whose sum is minus 7. ‐4
and ‐3 could do the trick, since 4 ∙ 3 12
and 4 3 7. Hence,
7 12 4 3 .
Factor a Trinomial of the Form :
This is a slight variation of the previous case.
Note that now the quadratic term has a
coefficient. Now you have to consider the
factors of and the factors of to produce b.
Other than that, the rest is the same.
There is a little tric to speed up the process.
Look for the factors of a*c, such that
. e.g., suppose you need to factor 3
11 8. 3, 11, 8. 3∙8
24. Factors of 24 are 1 ∙ 24, 2 ∙ 12, 6 ∙ 4, ∙
, but only the pair 3 ∙ 8 adds up to eleven.
That’s the one we need. Now, work backwards.