Factoring Quadratic

Polynomials
March 9, 2010
Homework:
#84 - Factoring polynomials 4
 Recall what we learned yesterday:

The first and last terms of a factorable trinomial

come from multiplying the first terms and last terms
of two binomials.

(3x - 5)(x – 1) = 3x2 – 8x + 5

Here’s another example: 2n2 + 15n + 7

Steps:
1) Find the factors of the first and last terms.
The factors of 2n2 are 2n and n, and the factors of 7 are 1 and 7.

2) Set up all possibilities and FOIL to check at least 2.

The two possibilities in this case are (2n + 7)(n + 1) and (2n + 1)(n + 7).
(2n + 7)(n + 1) = 2n + 9n + 7 and (2n + 1)(n + 7) = 2n + 15n + 7.
2 2

3) Box your final answer.

The factors that result in the original polynomial are (2n + 1)(n + 7).

4) When you FOILed to find the final answer, that was your check step.
Reconnaissance: Factoring polynomials

20x + 80x + 35
2
 Training mission: Factoring polynomials

Factor 7x - 30x + 27
2
Factor 6x + 23x + 7
2
Training mission: Factoring polynomials
2
Try on your own: 2y – 5y + 2

Steps:
1) Find the factors of the first and last terms.
2) Set up all possibilities and check at least 2.
3) Box your final answer.
4) When you FOILed to find the answer, that was your check step.
 Solo mission: Silent Ball
(We didn’t get to this on Monday,
but hopefully we will on Tuesday.)
1) 3x2 + 5x + 2
3
2) 7 2 + 16x + 4
7x
3) 5 2 – 17x – 6
5x
4) 2 2+x–3
2x

Early finishers: Write your own, more complex

problems and have a teammate factor.