2.3 Factoring Polynomials Math Worksheet Page 4
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2
3
4
5
6
74
Selecting a factoring strategy: Grouping
EXAMPLE
3
2
Factor
f (x) 5 x
1 x
1 x 1 1.
Fred’s Solution
I grouped pairs of terms.
3
2
f (x) 5 x
1 x
1 x 1 1
Then I factored the greatest
3
2
5 (x
1 x
) 1 (x 1 1)
common factor (GCF) from
2
5 x
(x 1 1) 1 (x 1 1)
each pair.
Then I factored out the
2
5 (x 1 1) (x
1 1)
greatest common factor,
(x 1 1),
to complete the
factoring.
5
Selecting a factoring strategy: Grouping
EXAMPLE
as a difference of squares
2
2
Factor
g (x) 5 x
2 6x 1 9 2 4y
.
Fran’s Solution
2
2
I recognized that the group
g(x) 5 x
2 6x 1 9 2 4y
consisting of the first three terms
2
2
5 (x 2 3)
2 (2y)
was the square of the binomial
x 2 3
and the last term was the
square of
2y.
I factored the resulting expression
5 (x 2 3 2 2y) (x 2 3 1 2y)
by using a difference of squares.
In Summary
Key Ideas
• Factoring a polynomial means writing it as a product. So factoring is the opposite
of expanding.
factoring
2
x
1 3x 2 4 5 (x 1 4) (x 2 1)
expanding
(continued)
Chapter 2 Equivalent Algebraic Expressions
101
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Education