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5.4 Introduction To Factoring: A. Factoring Out GCF
5.4 Introduction To Factoring: A. Factoring Out GCF
4 Introduction to Factoring
distributive property
factoring
We can often factor by “stripping out” the largest factor common to all terms, and then
writing what’s left inside parentheses.
B. Examples
Example 1: Factor
. Remove the GCF.
Solution
and both have and in them.
Thus is the largest factor, the GCF.
Thus write , where we will write what is left on the inside.
Thus we have (remove from
to get ; similarly for )
Ans
1
Note: You can always check a factoring problem by remultiplying!
Example 2: Factor . Remove the GCF.
Solution
, , and all have
in them.
Thus
is the largest factor, the GCF.
Thus write
, where we will write what is left on the inside.
Ans
Example 3: Factor . Remove the GCF.
Solution
and both have “ ” in them.
Thus write , where we will write what is left on the inside.
Ans
2
C. Factoring By Grouping
If you can’t factor out the GCF, and the polynomial has four terms, we can sometimes
factor further by grouping in pairs.
We factor out of just the first two, and just the last two. If we can not factor even further,
then factoring by grouping fails.
As we’ll see, this means that the factor pairs must MATCH.
D. Examples
Example 1: Factor if possible by grouping the first and last pairs.
Solution
Thus write
, where we will fill in what’s left.
Then we have
.
Notice that the FACTOR PAIRS and MATCH
(if they didn’t match, factoring by grouping FAILS)
Now is common, so factor it out.
Ans
3
Example 2: Factor if possible by grouping the first and last pairs.
Solution
Thus write
, where we will fill in what’s left.
Then we have
.
Notice that the FACTOR PAIRS and DON’T MATCH.
Ans (not factorable)
Note: As in the past two examples, whenever we factor with four terms, and the third term
is negative, we factor out the from the last pair.
Note: We sometimes use (brackets) when dealing with a lot of embedded parentheses.
4
F. Examples
Example 1: Factor
completely.
Solution
1. is common to all terms; factor it out
Now we will try factoring by grouping on the inside. Change to brackets due to
embedded parentheses.
2.
fill in
factor pairs MATCH; factor it out
Ans
Example 2: Factor
completely.
Solution
1. is common to all terms; factor it out
5
Now we will try factoring by grouping on the inside. Change to brackets due to
embedded parentheses.
2.
3.
works!
Ans
and
and
6
Basic Fact: Multiplying one of the negative factor pairs by yields the other one.
Example: Given , then
If you factor by grouping and get negative factor pairs, you can factor an additional minus
sign out of one pair to get the pairs to match.
Example: Factor
Solution
NO GCF!
Change into via additional minus sign; that is, change the sign of the
second term.
Ans