Pedagogical Note on Factorising Trinomials

with a quadratic coefficient > 1

Abstract

This note demonstrates a method for factorising trinomials which have a

quadratic coefficient greater than 1. An advantage of this method over some
other techniques is that the factor pairs of only one product need to be found
that add up to the coefficient of the original linear term. To compensate for
this simpler stage, cancellation of common factors is required in the final stage.
The approach is similar, in the level of difficulty, to the standard method for
factorising trinomials with a quadratic coefficient equal to 1.

Method for y = ax2 + bx + c

1. Multiply the coefficient a by c

2. Look for a factor pair (u, v) of ac that sums to b.

(ax + u)(ax + v)
3. The linear factors of y are then given by
a

Proof
a(ax2 + bx + c) a2 x2 + abx + ac
1. y = ax2 + bx + c = =
a a
2. If (u, v) is a factor pair of ac that sums to b, then

ac = uv and b=u+v

3. Substituting for b and ac in step 1,

a2 x2 + a(u + v)x + uv
y=
a
a2 x2 + aux + avx + uv
=
a
ax(ax + u) + v(ax + u)
=
a
(ax + u)(ax + v)
=
a

1
Example 1
Factorise y = 3x2 − 5x − 2
Multiply the coefficent of x2 , i.e. 3, by the constant term, -2, to give -6. Look for
the factor pairs of -6 that sum to -5.

Factor pairs Sum of

of -6 factors

(1, -6) -5
(-1, 6) 5
(2, -3) -1
(-2, 3) 1

The factors are given by:

(3x + 1)(3x − 6)
y= (note the appearance of 3x in both brackets)
3
(3x + 1) × 3(x − 2)
= = (3x + 1)(x − 2)
3

Example 2
Factorise y = 6x2 + 5x − 4
Multiply the coefficent of x2 , i.e. 6, by the constant term, -4, to give -24. Look for
the factor pairs of -24 that sum to 5.

Factor pairs Sum of

of -24 factors

(1, -24) -23

(-1, 24) 23
(2, -12) -10
(-2, 12) 10
(3, -8) -5
(-3, 8) 5
(4, -6) -2
(-4, 6) 2

The factors are given by:

(6x − 3)(6x + 8)
y= (note the appearance of 6x in both brackets)
6
3(2x − 1) × 2(3x + 4)
= = (2x − 1)(3x + 4)
6