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342 Chapter 5 Polynomials

Section 5.4 Greatest Common Factor and

Factoring by Grouping

Concepts 1. Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor

1. Factoring Out the Greatest Sections 5.4 through 5.7 are devoted to a mathematical operation called fac-
Common Factor toring. To factor an integer means to write the integer as a product of two or
2. Factoring Out a Negative Factor more integers. To factor a polynomial means to express the polynomial as a prod-
3. Factoring Out a Binomial Factor uct of two or more polynomials.
4. Factoring by Grouping In the product 5  7  35, for example, 5 and 7 are factors of 35.
In the product 12x  121x  62  2x2  11x  6, the quantities 12x  12 and
1x  62 are factors of 2x2  11x  6.
The greatest common factor (GCF) of a polynomial is the greatest factor that
divides each term of the polynomial evenly. For example, the greatest common fac-
tor of 9x4  18x3  6x2 is 3x2. To factor out the greatest common factor from a
polynomial, follow these steps:

Steps to Remove the Greatest Common Factor

1. Identify the greatest common factor of all terms of the polynomial.
2. Write each term as the product of the GCF and another factor.
3. Use the distributive property to factor out the greatest common factor.
Note: To check the factorization, multiply the polynomials.

Example 1 Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor

Factor out the greatest common factor.
a. 12x3  30x2 b. 12c 2d 3  30c 3d 2  3cd

Solution:
a. 12x3  30x2 The GCF is 6x2.
 6x2 12x2  6x2 152 Write each term as the product of the GCF and
another factor.
 6x2 12x  52 Factor out 6x2 by using the distributive property.

Avoiding Mistakes: TIP: A factoring problem can be checked by multiplying the factors:
In Example 1(b), the GCF of 3cd is
equal to one of the terms of the Check: 6x2 12x  52  12x3  30x2 ✔
polynomial. In such a case, you
must leave a 1 in place of that
term after the GCF is factored out.
b. 12c2d3  30c3d2  3cd The GCF is 3cd.
3cd 14cd 2  10c 2d  12
 3cd 14cd 2  3cd 110c d2  3cd 112
2 2
Write each term as the product of
the GCF and another factor.
 3cd14cd 2  10c 2d  12 Factor out 3cd by using the
distributive property.
Check: 3cd14cd2  10c2d  12  12c2d3  30c3d2  3cd ✔
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Section 5.4 Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping 343

Skill Practice Factor out the greatest common factor.

1. 45y5  15y2  30y 2. 16a 2b 5  12a 3b 3  4a 3b 2

2. Factoring Out a Negative Factor

Sometimes it is advantageous to factor out the opposite of the GCF, particularly when
the leading coefficient of the polynomial is negative.This is demonstrated in Example 2.
Notice that this changes the signs of the remaining terms inside the parentheses.

Example 2 Factoring Out a Negative Factor

Factor out the quantity 5a2b from the polynomial 5a4b  10a3b2  15a2b3.

Solution:
5a4b  10a3b2  15a2b3 The GCF is 5a2b.
However, in this case we
will factor out the opposite
of the GCF, 5a2b.
 5a2b1a2 2  5a2b12ab2  5a2b13b2 2 Write each term as the
product of 5a2b and
another factor.
 5a2b1a2  2ab  3b2 2 Factor out 5a2b by using
the distributive property.

Skill Practice
3. Factor out the quantity 6xy from the polynomial 24x 4y 3  12x 2y  18xy 2.

3. Factoring Out a Binomial Factor

The distributive property may also be used to factor out a common factor that
consists of more than one term. This is shown in Example 3.

Example 3 Factoring Out a Binomial Factor

Factor out the greatest common factor.
x3 1x  22  x1x  22  91x  22

Solution:
x3 1x  22  x1x  22  91x  22 The GCF is the quantity 1x  22.
 1x  221x 2  1x  221x2  1x  22192
3
Write each term as the product
of 1x  22 and another factor.
 1x  22 1x3  x  92 Factor out 1x  22 by using the
distributive property.

Skill Practice Skill Practice Answers

1. 15y 13y 4  y  22
4a 2b 2 14b 3  3ab  a2
4. Factor out the greatest common factor.
2.
a 2 1b  22  51b  22 3. 6xy 14x 3y 2  2x  3y2
4. 1b  22 1a 2  52
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344 Chapter 5 Polynomials

4. Factoring by Grouping
When two binomials are multiplied, the product before simplifying contains four
terms. For example:

13a  22 12b  72  13a  22 12b2  13a  22 172

 13a  22 12b2  13a  22 172

 6ab  4b  21a  14
In Example 4, we learn how to reverse this process. That is, given a four-term
polynomial, we will factor it as a product of two binomials. The process is called
factoring by grouping.

Steps to Factor by Grouping

To factor a four-term polynomial by grouping:
1. Identify and factor out the GCF from all four terms.
2. Factor out the GCF from the first pair of terms. Factor out the GCF
from the second pair of terms. (Sometimes it is necessary to factor out
the opposite of the GCF.)
3. If the two terms share a common binomial factor, factor out the bi-
nomial factor.

Example 4 Factoring by Grouping

Factor by grouping.
6ab  21a  4b  14

Solution:
6ab  21a  4b  14 Step 1: Identify and factor out the GCF
from all four terms. In this case
the GCF is 1.
Avoiding Mistakes:
 6ab  21a  4b  14 Group the first pair of terms and
In step 2, the expression
3a12b  72  212b  72 is the second pair of terms.
not yet factored because it is a  3a12b  72  212b  72 Step 2: Factor out the GCF from each
sum, not a product. To factor the pair of terms.
expression, you must carry it one
step further. Note: The two terms now share
3a12b  72  212b  72 a common binomial factor of
12b  72.
 12b  7213a  22 Step 3: Factor out the common binomial
 12b  72 13a  22
factor.
12b  72 13a  22  2b13a2  2b122  713a2  7122
The factored form must be
represented as a product. Check:
 6ab  4b  21a  14 ✔

Skill Practice Factor by grouping.

Skill Practice Answers 5. 7c 2  cd  14c  2d
5. 17c  d 2 1c  22
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Section 5.4 Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping 345

Example 5 Factoring by Grouping

Factor by grouping.
x3  3x2  3x  9

Solution:
x3  3x2  3x  9 Step 1: Identify and factor out the GCF
from all four terms. In this case the
GCF is 1.
 x3  3x2  3x  9 Group the first pair of terms and
the second pair of terms.
 x2 1x  32  31x  32 Step 2: Factor out x2 from the first pair of
terms.
Factor out 3 from the second pair
of terms (this causes the signs to
change in the second parentheses).
The terms now contain a common
binomial factor.
 1x  32 1x2  32 Step 3: Factor out the common binomial
1x  32.

TIP: One frequent question is, can the order be switched between factors?
The answer is yes. Because multiplication is commutative, the order in which
two or more factors are written does not matter. Thus, the following
factorizations are equivalent:
1x  32 1x2  32  1x2  32 1x  32

Skill Practice Factor by grouping.

6. a  4a  3a  12
3 2

Example 6 Factoring by Grouping

Factor by grouping.
24p2q2  18p2q  60pq2  45pq

Solution:
24p2q2  18p2q  60pq2  45pq
 3pq18pq  6p  20q  152 Step 1: Remove the GCF 3pq
from all four terms.
 3pq18pq  6p  20q  152 Group the first pair of
terms and the second pair
of terms.

Skill Practice Answers

6. 1a 2  32 1a  42
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346 Chapter 5 Polynomials

 3pq32p14q  32  514q  32 4 Step 2: Factor out the GCF from

each pair of terms. The
terms share the binomial
factor 14q  32.
 3pq14q  32 12p  52 Step 3: Factor out the common
binomial 14q  32.

Skill Practice Factor the polynomial.

7. 24x 2y  12x 2  20xy  10x

Notice that in step 3 of factoring by grouping, a common binomial is factored

from the two terms. These binomials must be exactly the same in each term. If
the two binomial factors differ, try rearranging the original four terms.

Example 7 Factoring by Grouping Where Rearranging

Terms Is Necessary
Factor the polynomial.
4x  6pa  8a  3px

Solution:
4x  6pa  8a  3px Step 1: Identify and factor out the GCF
from all four terms. In this case
the GCF is 1.
 4x  6pa  8a  3px
 212x  3pa2  118a  3px2 Step 2: The binomial factors in each
term are different.
 4x  8a  3px  6pa Try rearranging the original four terms
in such a way that the first pair of
coefficients is in the same ratio as the
second pair of coefficients. Notice that
the ratio 4 to 8 is the same as the ratio
3 to 6.
 41x  2a2  3p1x  2a2 Step 2: Factor out 4 from the first pair
of terms.
Factor out 3p from the second
pair of terms.
 1x  2a2 14  3p2 Step 3: Factor out the common
binomial factor.

Skill Practice Factor the polynomial.

8. 3ry  2s  sy  6r

Skill Practice Answers

7. 2x 16x  5212y  12
8. 13r  s2 12  y2
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Section 5.4 Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping 347

Section 5.4 Practice Exercises

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mathzone.com! • Self-Tests • Videos
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Study Skills Exercise

1. Define the key terms.
a. Greatest common factor (GCF) b. Factoring by grouping

Review Exercises
For Exercises 2–8, perform the indicated operation.
2. 14a3b5c212a7c2 2

3. 17t4  5t 3  9t2  12t4  6t 2  3t2

4. 15x3  9x  52  14x3  3x2  2x  12  16x3  3x2  x  12

5. 15y2  321y2  y  22 6. 1a  6b2 2

6v3  12v2  2v 3x3  2x2  4

7. 8.
2v x2

Concept 1: Factoring Out the Greatest Common Factor

9. What is meant by a common factor in a polynomial? What is meant by the greatest common factor?

10. Explain how to find the greatest common factor of a polynomial.

For Exercises 11–26, factor out the greatest common factor.

11. 3x  12 12. 15x  10 13. 6z2  4z 14. 49y3  35y2

15. 4p6  4p 16. 5q2  5q 17. 12x4  36x2 18. 51w4  34w3

19. 9st2  27t 20. 8a2b3  12a2b 21. 9a2  27a  18 22. 3x2  15x  9

23. 10x2y  15xy2  35xy 24. 12c3d  15c2d  3cd 25. 13b2  11a2b  12ab 26. 6a3  2a2b  5a2

Concept 2: Factoring Out a Negative Factor

For Exercises 27–32, factor out the indicated quantity.
27. x2  10x  7: Factor out the quantity 1.

28. 5y2  10y  3: Factor out the quantity 1.

29. 12x3y  6x2y  3xy: Factor out the quantity 3xy.

30. 32a4b2  24a3b  16a2b: Factor out the quantity 8a2b.

31. 2t3  11t2  3t: Factor out the quantity t.

32. 7y2z  5yz  z: Factor out the quantity z.

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348 Chapter 5 Polynomials

Concept 3: Factoring Out a Binomial Factor

For Exercises 33–40, factor out the GCF.
33. 2a13z  2b2  513z  2b2 34. 5x13x  42  213x  42 35. 2x2 12x  32  12x  32

36. z1w  92  1w  92 37. y12x  12 2  312x  12 2 38. a1b  72 2  51b  72 2

39. 3y1x  22 2  61x  22 2 40. 10z1z  32 2  21z  32 2

41. Solve the equation U  Av  Acw for A by first factoring out A.

42. Solve the equation S  rt  wt for t by first factoring out t.

43. Solve the equation ay  bx  cy for y.

44. Solve the equation cd  2x  ac for c.

45. Construct a polynomial that has a greatest common factor of 3x2. (Answers may vary.)

46. Construct two different trinomials that have a greatest common factor of 5x2y3. (Answers may vary.)

47. Construct a binomial that has a greatest common factor of 1c  d2. (Answers may vary.)

Concept 4: Factoring by Grouping

48. If a polynomial has four terms, what technique would you use to factor it?

49. Factor the polynomials by grouping.

a. 2ax  ay  6bx  3by
b. 10w2  5w  6bw  3b
c. Explain why you factored out 3b from the second pair of terms in part (a) but factored out the quan-
tity 3b from the second pair of terms in part (b).

50. Factor the polynomials by grouping.

a. 3xy  2bx  6by  4b2
b. 15ac  10ab  6bc  4b2
c. Explain why you factored out 2b from the second pair of terms in part (a) but factored out the quan-
tity 2b from the second pair of terms in part (b).

For Exercises 51–70, factor each polynomial by grouping (if possible).

51. y3  4y2  3y  12 52. ab  b  2a  2

53. 6p  42  pq  7q 54. 2t  8  st  4s

55. 2mx  2nx  3my  3ny 56. 4x2  6xy  2xy  3y2

57. 10ax  15ay  8bx  12by 58. 35a2  15a  14a  6

59. x3  x2  3x  3 60. 2rs  4s  r  2

61. 6p2q  18pq  30p2  90p 62. 5s2t  20st  15s2  60s
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Section 5.5 Factoring Trinomials 349

63. 100x3  300x2  200x  600 64. 2x5  10x4  6x3  30x2

65. 6ax  by  2bx  3ay 66. 5pq  12  4q  15p

67. 4a  3b  ab  12 68. x2y  6x  3x3  2y

69. 7y3  21y2  5y  10 70. 5ax  10bx  2ac  4bc

71. Explain why the grouping method failed for Exercise 69.

72. Explain why the grouping method failed for Exercise 70.

73. The area of a rectangle of width w is given by A  2w2  w. Factor the right-hand side of the equation to
find an expression for the length of the rectangle.

74. The amount in a savings account bearing simple interest at an interest rate r for t years is given by
A  P  Prt where P is the principal amount invested.
a. Solve the equation for P.
b. Compute the amount of principal originally invested if the account is worth $12,705 after 3 years at a
7% interest rate.

Expanding Your Skills

For Exercises 75–82, factor out the greatest common factor and simplify.
75. 1a  32 4  61a  32 5 76. 14  b2 4  214  b2 3 77. 2413x  52 3  3013x  52 2

78. 1012y  32 2  1512y  32 3 79. 1t  42 2  1t  42 80. 1p  62 2  1p  62

81. 15w2 12w  12 3  5w3 12w  12 2 82. 8z4 13z  22 2  12z3 13z  22 3

Factoring Trinomials Section 5.5

1. Factoring Trinomials: AC-Method Concepts

In Section 5.4, we learned how to factor out the greatest common factor from a 1. Factoring Trinomials:
polynomial and how to factor a four-term polynomial by grouping. In this section AC-Method
we present two methods to factor trinomials. The first method is called the 2. Factoring Trinomials: Trial-
ac-method. The second method is called the trial-and-error method. and-Error Method
The product of two binomials results in a four-term expression that can sometimes 3. Factoring Trinomials with a
be simplified to a trinomial. To factor the trinomial, we want to reverse the process. Leading Coefficient of 1
4. Factoring Perfect Square
12x  321x  22 
Multiply the binomials. Trinomials
Multiply: 2x2  4x  3x  6
5. Mixed Practice: Summary of
Add the middle terms.
Factoring Trinomials
 2x2  7x  6

Rewrite the middle term as

a sum or difference of terms.
Factor: 2x  7x  6 
2
2x2  4x  3x  6

12x  321x  22
Factor by grouping.