By Jason, Blake, Skye and

Alicia
 CHECK FOR GCF

3 TERMS 4 TERMS
2 TERMS (ax²+bx+c)

DIFFERENCE OF GROUP IN PAIRS

TRINOMIAL SQUARE (binomial G.C.F)
SQUARES

ORDINARY TRINOMIAL DIFFERENCE OF

(a=1) SQUARES – ONE TRI.
SQUARE
COMBINATION
TRINOMIALS
(a>1)

ex) 16X²-9
=( )( )
=(4X )(4X )
=(4X- )(4X+ )
=(4X-3)(4X+3)
 Definitions & Important Facts

•Difference of squares-Is a result when two conjugates

are applied to one another.
ex)(16x²-9)
=(4x-3)(4x+3)

• Conjugate-Is the same terms in each set of brackets. However,

a different sign is applied to one.
ex)(a+b)(a-b)
=a²-b²

Factoring-Is the process of breaking down numbers into all their

factors.
ex) 6x²+18x
=6x(x+3)

•Factor-Quantities multiplied together that produce a product.

 •Greatest Common Factor-It is a number that is common in
all of the denominators.
ex)1\2 + 3\5
=5\10 + 6\10
=11\10

•Monomial-One term ex)2x³

•Binomial- Two terms ex)2x³-1x²

•Trinomial-Three terms ex)2x³-1x²+5x

•Polynomial-More than three terms ex)2x³-1x²+5x+7

•Double Difference of Squares

ex)(a4-16b4)
=(a²-4b²)(a²+4b²)
=(a-2b)(a+2b)(a²+4b²)
• FOIL-First, Outside, Inside, Last
ex)(3x+1)(3x+4)
=9x²+12x+3x+4
=9x²+15x+4

• Decomposition-is the process of breaking down a number

into smaller units
ex)12x²-x-6
 ex) 16X²-9
=( )( )
=(4X )(4X )
=(4X- )(4X+ )
=(4X-3)(4X+3
FACTORING A DIFFERENCE OF SQUARES: G.C.F.
ex) 3x²-27
2. If your expression has two terms, check for a
difference of squares. If it is a difference of =3(x²-9)
squares, your expression will be a pair of =3( )( )
conjugates formed by the square roots.
=3(x )(x )
3. Remove a G.C.F. (if there is one)
=3(x- )(x+ )
4. Make two sets of brackets
=3(x-3)(x+3)
5. Take the square root of your first term, and put it
as the first term in each of your brackets
6. Next put in the signs, one term will have a
negative sign (-), and the other will have a
positive sign (+)
7. Now take the square root of the second term of
the expression and put it in each bracket as your
 •The difference
between a binomial
square and a
difference of
squares is that the
first part of a •Double difference of
binomial square is squares is basically the
an expression not a same as a difference of
single term squares

•Follow the same •In your answer you will

steps as you would have 3 terms
Sum of squares,
for a regular Expression, •There will be a prime, can’t
ex) (9a-2)²-25 not term
difference of difference of squares, ex) a^4-16b^4
factor
=(9a-2-5)(9a-2+5)
squares and a sum of squares
=(9a-7)(9a+3) =( )( )

=(9a-7) 3(3a+1) =(a² )(a² )

G.C.F. =(a²- )(a²+ )
=3(9a-7)(3a+1)
Difference of
=(a²-4b²)(a²-4b²)
squares, factor it
=(a-2b)(a+2b) (a²-4b
 Factoring Trinomial
Squares
A trinomial square needs to have:
2. First and third terms are positive squares
3. Middle term is twice the product of the square
roots of the first and third terms.
*The factors of the trinomial square are
made from the square roots.
When factoring ALWAYS check for a GCF first. If you find
that it is a trinomial square then you factor by taking the
square root of the first and third term. You put the factors
in brackets and then square it. You can check your
answer
Example by
1: FOIL.
81-18a+a^2
You may run into some that are prime
=(9-a)^2 so you just write prime down as your
Example 2: 3+12b+12b^2 answer.
=3(1+4b+4b^2) Example: y^2+12y+2^4
=3(1+2b)^2
 Factoring Ordinary
Trinomials
A=1
*Trinomials factor into a pair of
binomials
* Check for GCF FIRST.
Procedure to factor: x^2-11+24
4. Set up 2 binomials with the factors of x^2 as the first
terms. Ex: (x )(x )
5. Decide the appropriate signs to use in between each term
in the parenthesis. Ex: (x- )(x- )
Note: When the product is negative the factors have the opposite
sign. When the product is positive they are the same. If they are
positive you determine which sign by looking at the sum. If the
sum is negative they are both negative, so if the sum is positive
they are both positive.
7. Determine which factors of the product(24) add up to the
sum
 Factoring
Trinomials A>1
You factor these trinomials using
decomposition.
These are the steps: 12x^2-x-6

4. Look for a GCF

5. Find 2 integers with a product of (a)(c) and a sum of b.
(a is the first term, c is the last term and b is the middle
term)
Ex: (12)(-6)=-72 b= -1 Factors= 8, -9
3. Determine the possible first terms. Look at the first term
to get these. Ex: (4x )(3x )
9. To find the rest of the numbers you take the factors that
you found and see which of the first terms divide evenly
into them. That determines which numbers to use and
where they go.
Facto rin g b y Gro uping 4 Term
Expressio ns
 First, before you do anything, you have to find the Greatest
Common Factor (GCF)

Procedure to factor 4-Term Expressions:

• Group into 2 pairs of terms separated by a + sign

• Remove the GCF from each pair
• Look for a binomial common factor to remove.

xy + 3x + 2y + 6
= ( xy +3x ) + ( 2y + 6 )
=x(y+3)+2(y+3)
=(y+3)(x+2)
* Sometimes when a GCF or
common binomial factor is not
there (when you’re grouping).
When this happens you have to
rearrange your terms.
Examples
1) You group the xy+3x and 2y+6 together
2) You have to make sure to always have a
positive sign separating the two expressions
3) Then you take the GCF out of the terms
4) The terms in the brackets always have to be
the same ( positive or negative signs to)
5) Then you finally group everything together the
(y+3) goes together and you put the x and
the 2 together making it (x+2).
 More Examples

1) cx + dy + cy + dx 1) Sometimes when a GCF or

common binomial factor is not
= (cx + dy) + (cy + dx)
there (when you’re grouping).
* There is no GCF to take out… so When this happens you have
we rearrange * to rearrange your terms.
= (cx + cy) + (dy + dx) *2) Be careful when the third term
is negative, you still have to
= c (x+y) + d (x+y) maintain the + sign between
= (c+d) (x+y) the 2 pairs.

2) 6yz – 27z- 16y + 72

= (6yz-27z) + ( -16y+72)
= 2y(3z-8) + 9(-3z+8)
= * Switch the signs so that the 3 is positive and
the 8 is negative.
= 2y(3z-8) -9(3z-8)
= (2y-9) (3z-8)