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Digital SAT Math
Unit 12: Lesson 1
Factoring quadratic and polynomial expressions: advancedFactoring quadratic and polynomial expressions | Lesson
A guide to factoring quadratic and polynomial expressions on the digital SAT
What are factoring quadratic and polynomial expressions questions?
Factoring quadratic and polynomial expressions questions ask you to rewrite polynomials in their equivalent, factored form.
For example, x, squared, plus, 3, x, plus, 2 can be rewritten as left parenthesis, x, plus, 1, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, plus, 2, right parenthesis, and x, squared, minus, 9 can be rewritten as left parenthesis, x, minus, 3, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis.
In this lesson, we'll learn to:
- Factor polynomial expressions
- Use knowledge of factoring to evaluate expressions
You can learn anything. Let's do this!
How do I factor quadratic expressions?
Factoring quadratic expressions
Note: We cover how to factor quadratic expressions in the form x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c in detail in the Solving quadratic equations lesson.
Quadratic expressions that have an x, squared-coefficient that is not 1 are more difficult to factor. We should try to factor out any common factors if possible.
For example, in the expression 3, x, squared, plus, 12, x, minus, 15, we can factor out a 3 first and then factor the quadratic expression x, squared, plus, 4, x, minus, 5.
To factor a quadratic expression in the form x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c:
- Find two numbers with a product equal to c and a sum equal to b.
- The two factors of the expression are each the sum of x and one of the numbers from Step 1.
Example: Factor x, squared, plus, 9, x, minus, 10.
When we can't factor out an integer, we can use a technique called factoring by grouping.
Factoring quadratics by grouping
If you'd like to review this technique, we recommend watching this video before proceeding!
How do we factor by grouping?
The first step of factoring a, x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c is familiar: we're looking for two integers with a product equal to a, c and a sum equal to b.
For example, let's factor 2, x, squared, plus, 9, x, minus, 5.
We are looking for two numbers that meet the following criteria:
- Their product is equal to left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, minus, 5, right parenthesis, equals, minus, 10.
- Their sum is equal to 9.
The numbers 10 and minus, 1 work:
- left parenthesis, 10, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, minus, 1, right parenthesis, equals, minus, 10
- 10, plus, left parenthesis, minus, 1, right parenthesis, equals, 9
These two numbers alone do not give us the factors. Instead, they tell us how to split up the x-term of the expression. We can rewrite 9, x as 10, x, minus, x:
Next, we group the terms into two pairs:
Notice that we can factor each pair of terms:
When we do this, we see that both of the initial pairs contain the factor x, plus, 5. This means we can factor out the x, plus, 5 from the overall expression:
Therefore, 2, x, squared, plus, 9, x, minus, 5, equals, left parenthesis, x, plus, 5, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, 2, x, minus, 1, right parenthesis.
Note: Factoring by grouping can be difficult, and there are often other strategies that can get you to the answer on test day. For example, you might be able to simply test multiple choice options by using FOIL, or plug in simple values for x to find a match!
To factor a quadratic expression in the form a, x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c:
- Factor out any integers if possible. If this results in the product of an integer and a quadratic expression in the form x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c, follow the steps for factoring x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c shown above.
- Find two numbers with a product equal to a, c and a sum equal to b.
- Use the two numbers from Step 2 to split b, x into two x-terms.
- Group the resulting expression into two pairs of terms: one pair should have an x, squared-term and an x-term, and the other pair should have an x-term and a constant term.
- Factor out an expression containing x from the pair with an x, squared-term and an x-term. Factor out a constant from the pair with an x-term and a constant term. These two pairs should now share a binomial factor.
- The shared binomial factor is one factor of the quadratic expression. The expression containing x and the constant factored out in Step 5 combine to form the other factor of the quadratic expression.
Example: Factor 6, x, squared, minus, 7, x, minus, 3.
Try it!
How do I use special factoring?
Factor difference of squares: leading coefficient does not equal, 1
Special factoring
Special factoring rules are shortcuts for factoring polynomials with specific combinations of terms. Many students find that when they recognize opportunities to apply special factoring rules, they save valuable time on test day.
Anytime we see multiple perfect square terms in a polynomial expression, e.g., 9 or 4, x, squared, check the other terms to see whether the expression satisfies the criteria for special factoring.
Square of sum: a, squared, plus, 2, a, b, plus, b, squared, equals, left parenthesis, a, plus, b, right parenthesis, squared
Square of difference: a, squared, minus, 2, a, b, plus, b, squared, equals, left parenthesis, a, minus, b, right parenthesis, squared
Difference of squares: a, squared, minus, b, squared, equals, left parenthesis, a, plus, b, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, a, minus, b, right parenthesis
To use special factoring to factor a polynomial expression:
- Factor out any common factors if possible.
- Recognize that one or more terms in the expression are perfect squares.
- Confirm that all of the terms in the expression satisfy the criteria for special factoring.
- Apply the appropriate special factoring rule.
Let's look at some examples!
Factor 4, x, squared, plus, 12, x, plus, 9.
Factor 9, y, start superscript, 4, end superscript, minus, 25, x, squared.
Try it!
Your turn!
Things to remember
Square of sum: a, squared, plus, 2, a, b, plus, b, squared, equals, left parenthesis, a, plus, b, right parenthesis, squared
Square of difference: a, squared, minus, 2, a, b, plus, b, squared, equals, left parenthesis, a, minus, b, right parenthesis, squared
Difference of squares: a, squared, minus, b, squared, equals, left parenthesis, a, plus, b, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, a, minus, b, right parenthesis
Want to join the conversation?
- If 8x^2-5x-22=(ax+11)(bx-2) where a and b are constant what is the value of a-b(3 votes)
- By comparing both side of the equation we get 8 and 1 and a-b is 7(1 vote)