Factoring expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c – 2010

1 Review

1.1 GCF

Factor

1. 4x + 8y 2. 4x + x2 3. 10x5 + 20x4 + 400x3

Solve

1. 3m + 6m2 = 0 2. y 2 = 7y 3. 12z 2 + 18z = 0

1.2 Grouping

Factor

1. x2 + 3x + 4x + 12 2. x2 − 1x + 1x − 1 3. x2 − 6x + 12x − 72

Solve

1. x2 + 4x + 5x + 20 = 0 2. 2x2 − 8x + 3x = 12
1.3 Sum/Product Rule

Complete the table below

Two Numbers Whose Product is Whose Sum is

3, -6 -18 -3

4, 5 20 9

2, -40 -18

, 32 12

, -60 7

, -782 11

Factor

1. x2 − 3x2 + 2 2. x2 + 9x + 14 3. x2 − 6x − 40

Solve

1. x2 − 6x = 16 2. x2 + 3x = 180 3. x2 − 7x + 12 = 0
2 Factoring expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c

2.1 Sometimes you can factor out a GCF

Here are a few example problems

1. Simplify: 3(x2 + 6x + 8)
3(x2 + 6x + 8) = 3x2 + 18x + 24

2. Factor: 5x2 − 5x − 60

5x2 − 5x − 60 = 5(x2 − x − 12)

= 5(x − 4)(x + 3)
| {z }
Solution

3. Solve: 12x2 − 480 = −36x

12x2 − 480 = −36x

12x2 + 36x − 480 = 0 Arrange the equation to equal 0 (Add 36x to both sides)
12(x2 + 3x − 40) = 0 Factor out the GCF (12)
12(x + 8)(x − 5) = 0 Use the Sum/Product Rule to Factor x2 + 3x − 40
x = −8, 5

Your turn. Factor

1. 3x2 + 9x − 120 2. 10x2 + 120x + 270 3. 20x2 + 20x − 1120

Solve

1. 2x2 + 2x − 12 = 0 2. 5x2 + 80 = −40x 3. 6x3 = −24x2 + 126x

2.2 Sometimes you can’t factor out the GCF, and you have to split the
middle

“Splitting the middle” is a factoring strategy that you can use on expressions of the form ax2 +bx+c
when a 6= 1 and you cannot factor out a GCF to make a = 1. The expression 3x2 + 11x + 6 for
example can be factored by guessing and checking or splitting the middle.

Complete the factorization of each expression:

1. 3x2 + 11x + 6 = (3x + )(x + ) 2. 12x2 + 19x + 4 = (4x + )(3x + )

Simplify (3x + 5)(4x + 3)

(3x + 5)(4x + 3) = 12x2 + 9x

| +{z20x} +15
= 12x2 + 29x + 15

What is special about the 9xand20x in the first step above? Discuss / Notes

List the steps for splitting the middle:

Together, factor:

1. 7x2 + 46x − 21 2. 8x2 + 14x + 5

On your own, factor:

1. 2x2 + 15x + 18 2. 4x2 + 12x + 5 3. 63x2 + 22x − 21