Chapter 6

Section 2

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6.2 Factoring Trinomials

1
Factor trinomials with a coefficient of 1 for
the squared term.
2
Factor such trinomials after factoring out
the greatest common factor.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Pearson Addison-Wesley

Factoring Trinomials
Using the FOIL method, we see that the product
of the binomial k − 3 and k +1 is
(k − 3)(k + 1) = k2 − 2k − 3. Multiplying

Suppose instead that we are given the polynomial

k2 − 2k − 3 and want to rewrite it as the product
(k − 3)(k + 1). That is,
k2 − 2k − 3 = (k − 3)(k + 1). Factoring

Recall from Section 6.1 that this process is called

factoring the polynomial. Factoring reverses or
“undoes” multiplying.
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Objective 1

Factor trinomials with a

coefficient of 1 for the squared
term.

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Factor trinomials with a coefficient of 1 for
the squared term.
When factoring polynomials with integer coefficients, we use
only integers in the factors. For example, we can factor
x2 + 5x + 6 by finding integers m and n such that
x2 + 5x + 6 = (x + m)(x + n).
To find these integers m and n, we first use FOIL to multiply
the two binomials on the right side of the equation:
 x  m x  n  x22  nx  mx  mn.
 x   n  m x  mn.
Comparing this result with x2 + 5x + 6 shows that we must find
integers m and n having a sum of 5 and a product of 6.
Product of m and n is 6.

x2  5x  6  x2   n  m x  mn.
Sum of m and n is 5.
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Factor trinomials with a coefficient of 1 for
the squared term. (cont’d)
Since many pairs of integers have a sum of 5, it is best to begin
by listing those pairs of integers whose product is 6. Both 5 and
6 are positive, so consider only pairs in which both integers are
positive.

Both pairs have a product of 6, but only the pair 2 and 3 has a
sum of 5. So 2 and 3 are the required integers, and
x2 + 5x + 6 = (x + 2)(x + 3).
Check by using the FOIL method to multiply the binomials.
Make sure that the sum of the outer and inner products
produces the correct middle term.
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Factor trinomials with a coefficient of 1 for
the squared term. (cont’d)
Guidelines for factoring a trinomial of the form
x2 + bx + c are summarized here.
Find two integers whose product is c and whose
sum is b.
1. Both integers must be positive if b and c are
positive.
2. Both integers must be negative if c is positive
and b is negative.
3. One integer must be positive and one must be
negative if c is negative.
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EXAMPLE 1 Factoring a Trinomial with All
Positive Terms

Factor y2+ 12y + 20.

Solution:

Factors of 20 Sums of Factors

1, 20 1 + 20 = 21
2, 10 2 + 10 = 12
4, 5 4+5 =9

  y  10 y  2
You can check your factoring by graphing both the unfactored and
factored forms of polynomials on your graphing calculators.

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 Factoring a Trinomial with a
EXAMPLE 2 Negative Middle Term

Factor y2 − 10y + 24.

Solution:

Factors of 24 Sums of Factors

− 1 , −24 −1 + (−24) = −25
−2 , −12 −2 + (−12) = −14
−3 , −8 −3 + (−8) = −11
−4 , −6 −4 + (−6) = −10

  y  6 y  4

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 Factoring a Trinomial with Two
EXAMPLE 3 Negative Terms

Factor a2 − 9a − 22.
Solution:

Factors of −22 Sums of Factors

−1 , 22 −1 + 22 = 21
1, −22 1 + (−22) = −21
−2 , 11 −2 + 11 = 9
2 , −11 2 + (−11) = −9

  a  11 a  2 
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 Deciding whether Polynomials
EXAMPLE 4 Are Prime

Factor if possible. Solution:

Factors of 14 Sums of Factors
m2  8m  14 −1 , −14 −1 + (−14) = −15 Prime
−2 , −7 −2 + (−7) = −9

y  y2
2 Factors of 2 Sums of Factors
Prime
1, 2 1+2=3

Summarize the signs of the binomials when factoring a trinomial

whose leading coefficient is positive.
1. If the last term of the trinomial is positive, both binomials will
have the same “middle” sign as the second term.
2. If the last term of the trinomial is negative, the binomials will
have one plus and one minus “middle” sign.
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 Factoring a Trinomial with Two
EXAMPLE 5 Variables

Factor r2 − 6rs + 8s2.

Solution:

Factors of 8s2 Sums of Factors

−1s , −8s − 1s + (−8s) = −9s
−2s , −4s −2s + (−4s) = −6s

  r  4s  r  2s 

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Objective 2

Factor such trinomials after

factoring out the greatest common
factor.

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 Factoring a Trinomial with a
EXAMPLE 6 Common Factor

Factor 3x4 − 15x3 + 18x2.

Solution:

 3x 2  x 2  5 x  6 
 3x2  x  3 x  2

When factoring, always look for a common factor first.

Remember to include the common factor as part of the answer.
As a check, multiplying out the factored form should always give
the original polynomial.
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