Factoring Polynomials

Greatest Common Factor

Factor out the greatest common factor of all terms.
Ex:
6x4 – 8x3 + 14x2
= 2x2 (3x2 – 4x + 7)

Difference of Squares
A difference in two perfect squares by
definition states that there must be two
terms, the sign between the two terms
is a minus sign, and each of the two
terms contain perfect squares. The
answer after factoring the difference in
two squares includes two binomials.
One of the binomials contains the sum
of two terms and the other contains the
difference of two terms.
a2 – b2 = (a + b) (a – b)
Ex:
36x2 – 9y2
= (6x + 3y) (6x – 3y)

Perfect Square Trinomials

A perfect square trinomial is an algebraic
expression it three terms that are created by
multiplying a binomial to itself.
a2 + 2b + b2 = (a + b)2
a2 – 2b + b2 = (a – b)2
Ex:
x2 + 6x + 9 = (x + 3)2
x2 – 6x + 9 = (x – 3)2

Quadratic Trinomials
For ax2 + bx + c, find factors with product ac and sum b.
Ex:
3x2 + 13x – 10
= (x + 5) (3x – 2)

Sum and Difference of Cubes

As with squares, the difference in two
cubes means that there will be two
terms and each will contain perfect
cubes and the sign between the two
terms will be negative. The sum of two
cubes would, of course, contain a plus
sign between the two perfect cube
terms.
a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2)
a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + ab + b2)
Ex:
8x3 + 1 = (2x + 1) (4x2 – 2x + 1)
8x3 – 1 = (2x – 1) (4x2 + 2x + 1)
Representation
The polynomial can be transformed into
a quadratic trinomial by letting u = x2.
The resulting trinomial is factorable.
Ex:
4x4 + 15x2 – 25
Let u = x2
4u2 + 15u – 25
4u2 + 20u – 5u – 25
(4u2 + 20u) – (5u + 25)
4u (u + 5) – 5(u + 5)
(u + 5) (4u - 5)
(x2 + 5) (4x2 - 5)
Grouping
Grouping is when there is no factor common
to all terms of a polynomial there will be
factors common to some of the terms.
Ex:
2x2y + 4xy2 – 5x – 10y
(2x2y + 4xy2) – (5x + 10y)
2xy (x + 2y) – 5(x + 2y)
(x + 2y) (2xy – 5)

For ax2 + bx + c, find factors with product ac

and sum b.
Ex:
3x2 + 13x – 10
= (x + 5) (3x – 2)
Polynomial Equation

Rational Root Theorem

𝐿
If a rational number in “lowest term” is a
𝐹
root of the polynomial equation.
anxn + an - 1xn - 1
Ex:
x3 – 6x2 + 12x – 8 = 0
8 = ±1, ± 2, ±4, ±8
Possible factor: (x – 2)
p(2) = (2)3 – 6(2)2 + 12(2) – 8
= 8 – 24 + 24 – 8
=0
2 is a root
x3 – 6x2 + 12x – 8 ; x – 2
1 -6 12 - 8 |2
2 -8 8
1 -4 4 0
x2 – 4x + 4  depressed equation
(x – 2)2
2 and 2 are roots
Roots: 2, 2, 2

Quadratic Surd Roots Theorem

Surds are numbers let in root form (√ ) to express its exact value. If
the quadratic surd a + √𝑏 is a root of a polynomial equation, then a -
√𝑏 is also a root of a polynomial equation.
a + √𝑏 = a - √𝑏
Ex:
√5 = - √5
-7 + √3 = -7 - √3
-√11 + 4 = √11 + 4
2i + 3√2 = 2i - 3√2
3 3
4√2 - = - 4√2 -
2 2

Complex Conjugate Roots Theorem

If the complex number a + bi is a root of a polynomial equation with
real coefficients, then the complex conjugate a – bi is also a root of
the polynomial equation.
a + bi = a – bi
Ex:
2i = - 2i
3 – 2i = 3 + 2i
-i + √2 = i + √2
-4i – 7 = 4i – 7
Factor Theorem
If p(c) = 0, then x – c is a factor of a polynomial p(x).
Ex:
x3 – 6x2 + 12x – 8 = 0
8 = ±1, ± 2, ±4, ±8
Possible factor: (x – 2)
p(2) = (2)3 – 6(2)2 + 12(2) – 8
= 8 – 24 + 24 – 8
=0
2 is a factor
x3 – 6x2 + 12x – 8 ; x – 2
1 -6 12 - 8 |2
2 -8 8
1 -4 4 0
x2 – 4x + 4  depressed equation
(x – 2)2
2 and 2 are factors
Factors: (x – 2) (x – 2) (x – 2)

Synthetic division
It is a shorthand method of dividing polynomials for the special case
of dividing by a linear factor whose leading coefficient is 1.
Ex:

2x3 – 5x2 + 3x + 7 ÷ x – 2
2 -5 3 7 |2
4 -2 2
2 -1 1 9
9
2x2 – x + 1 +
𝑥−2

Double Synthetic
Ex:
6x4 + 11x3 – 43x2 – 40x ÷ x2 + x – 8
x4 x3 x2 x c
6 11 -43 -40 0 |-1, 8
-6 48
-5 40
0 0
6 5 0 0 0
6x2 + 5x