Factoring by Grouping

Objective: After completing this section, students should be able

to factor polynomials by grouping.
After completing these notes, you will be ready to do the
following assignments. Assignment handout (front/back) all

Standard CA 11.0: Factor polynomials by grouping.

Steps for factoring by grouping:

1. A polynomial must have 4 terms to factor by grouping.

ex. x 3 x 2 2 x 2
2. We factor the first two terms and the second two terms
separately. Use the rules for GCF to factor these.
The GCF of
x 3 x 2 is x 2 .

x 3 x 2 2 x 2
x 2 x 1 2 x 1

The GCF of
2 x 2 is 2.

3. Finally, we factor out the "common factor" from both terms.

This means we write the

x 1

term in front and the 2 terms

left over, x 2 +2 , in a separate set of parentheses.

x 1 x 2 2

Examples:

1. 6 x 9 x 4 x 6
3

The GCF of
6 x 3 9 x 2 is 3x 2 .

6 x3 9 x 2 4 x 6
3x 2 2 x 3 2 2 x 3
These two terms must be the same.

The GCF of
4 x 6 is 2.

2 x 3 3 x 2 2

2. x x x 1
3

The GCF of
x 3 x 2 is x 2 .

x3 x 2 x 1
x 2 x 1 1 x 1
These two terms must be the same.

The GCF of
x 1 is 1.

x 1 x 2 1

Examples:

3. x 2 x x 2
3

The GCF of
x 3 2 x 2 is x 2 .

x3 2 x 2 x 2
x 2 x 2 1 x 2
These two terms must be the same.

The GCF of
x 2 is 1.

x 2 x 2 1

You must always check to see if the expression is factored completely. This
expression can still be factored using the rules for difference of two squares. (see 6.2)

x 2 x 2 1

This is a difference of two squares.

x 2 x 1 x 1

Examples:

4. x y ay ab bx
2

The GCF of
x 2 y 2 ay 2 is y 2 .

x 2 y 2 ay 2 ab bx 2
2
y 2 x 2 a b a x

The GCF of
ab bx 2 is b.

y 2 b x2 a

These two terms must be the same.

You can rearrange the terms so that they are the same.

5. x x 2 x 2
3

The GCF of
x 3 x 2 is x 2 .

x3 x 2 2 x 2
x 2 x 1 2 x 1
These two terms must be the same.
But they are not the same. So this
polynomial is not factorable.

The GCF of
2 x 2 is 2.

Not Factorable

Try These:
Factor by grouping.

a. 8 x 3 2 x 2 12 x 3
b. 4 x 3 6 x 2 6 x 9
c. x 3 x 2 x 1
d. 3a 6b 5a 10ab
2

Solutions:

If you did not get these answers, click the green

button next to the solution to see it worked out.

a.

4 x 1 2 x 2 3

b.

2 x 3 2 x 2 3

c.

x 1 x 1 x 1

d.

a 2b 3 5a

a. 8 x 2 x 12 x 3
3

The GCF of
8 x3 2 x 2 is 2x 2 .

8 x 2 x 12 x 3
2
2 x 4 x 1 3 4 x 1
3

4 x 1 2 x 2 3

The GCF of
12 x 3 is 3.

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b. 4 x 6 x 6 x 9
3

The GCF of
4 x 3 6 x 2 is 2x 2 .

4x 6x

6 x 9
2
2 x 2 x 3 3 2 x 3
3

2 x 3 2 x 2 3

The GCF of
6 x 9 is 3.
When you factor a negative out of
a positive, you will get a negative.

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c. x x x 1
3

The GCF of
x 3 x 2 is x 2 .

x3 x 2 x 1
x 2 x 1 1 x 1
x 1 x 1
2

The GCF of
x 1 is 1.

Now factor the difference of squares.

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x 1 x 1 x 1

d. 3a 6b 5a 10ab
2

The GCF of
3a 6b is 3.

3a 6b 5a 2 10ab
3 a 2b 5a a 2b

The GCF of
5a 2 10ab is 5a.

a 2b 3 5a
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