Group of 3 people

Group of 4 people

Group of 6 people

Well, the answer is, any one of the options will do. Why so? Well, you know that
3, 4 and 6 are factors of 12 from your knowledge of number system, which you
have learned long back. So, we can divide the 12 chocolates into these groups.

Browse more Topics under Polynomials

Polynomial and its Types

Value of Polynomial and Division Algorithm

Degree of Polynomial

Remainder Theorem

Factor Theorem

Zeroes of Polynomial

Geometrical Representation of Zeroes of a Polynomial

Factors

What are the factors? When it comes to integers, if a number has an integral
value and that particular value get divided completely by another number(s)
without leaving any remainder other than zero, then the dividend is said to be a
factor(s) of that integer.

OR

When an integer could be written as a product of two or more integers each then
such numbers will be its factor. Why not consider some examples to understand
more. What can be the factors for 12?
 12 = 6 × 2
12 = 4 × 3
12 = 12 × 1

So, you can see that a number can be factorized in more than one way. But it’s
not applicable to all the numbers. For a number like 7, 3, 5, 11 (which are prime
numbers), these numbers have only one factor other than itself.

7=7×1

So, it can be factorized in only one possible way.

Factorization of Polynomials
The same case of numbers also exists with Polynomials. A polynomial can be
written as a product of two or more polynomials of degree less than or equal to
that of it. Each polynomial involved in the product will be a factor of it.

Graph of a Polynomial (Source: Wikipedia)

The process involved in breaking a polynomial into the product of its factors is
known as the factorization of polynomials. As I’ve told in the previous sections
that Monomial, Binomials are just the other names for Polynomials. Its always
good to start with the smaller and easiest one. So, let’s hit the Monomials.

Download NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Maths

Monomials
Monomials can be factorized in the same way as integers, just by writing the
monomial as the product of its constituent prime factors. In the case of
monomials, these prime factors can be integers as well as other monomials
which cannot be factorized further. Factorize:

a3 = (a) × (a) × (a)

3abc = (3) × (a) × (b) × (c)

We will factorize monomials with binomials, trinomial and polynomial. But

before doing that, we will brush up concepts on GCD or HCF.

GCD or HCF
For a given set of numbers, the Greatest Common Number that will divide each
of the numbers will be the GCD of that particular set of numbers. It is also
known as HCF of numbers .i.e. Highest Common Factor.

Steps To Calculate the GCD of Integers

Step 1: Break the number into the product of its prime factors.

Step 2: Identify the common factors for the given set of numbers.

Step 3: The product of common factors will be gcd of the number set.

Step 4: If no common factor is found choose 1 as a common factor.

Example: Find GCD of 15 and 24.

15 = 3 x 5
24 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 3

GCD of 15 and 24 is 3. This same procedure applies to polynomials.

Steps To Calculate the GCD of Polynomials

 Step 1: For a given set of polynomials, break the polynomial into its
factors such that each factor polynomial cannot be factorized further.

Step 2: Identify common terms or polynomials for a given set of

polynomials.

Example: Find GCD of 15ab and 3bc.

15ab = 3 x (5) x (a) x (b)

23bc = 3 x (b) x (c)

Here, GCD of 15ab and 3bc is 3b.

Factoring Binomials

Follow the 4 easy steps to factorize Binomials:

Step 1: Break each term into its prime factors.

Step 2: Find common factors or GCD for all individual terms.

Step 3: Factor out the common factor or GCD.

Step 4: The remaining terms in individual terms will form another

polynomial. Put them in separate bracket multiplied by the GCD factored
out initially.

Step 5: The resulting product of terms will be the factors of the initial
polynomial (binomial).

Example: Factorize 15ab + 3bc

= 3 × (5) × (a) × (b) + 3 × (b) × (c) = 3b (5a + c)

Factoring Quadratic Polynomials

Case 1: When the coefficient of x2 is unity.
The general form of an equation is x2+bx+c. Every quadratic equation can be
expressed as: x2+bx+c= (x+d)(x+e). Here, b is the sum of d and e & c is the
product of d and e. Example: (x+2)(x+3) = x2+ 2x + 3x + 6 = x2+ 5x + 6.

Here, 5 = 2 + 3 = d + e = b in general form and 6 = 2 × 3 = d × e = c in general

form. To factorize quadratic polynomial, we shall be looking for numbers which
on multiplication will get equal to c and on summation equal to b.

Example: Factorize x2+8x+12.

Solution: Below the steps are given for your understanding.

Step 1: Factorize 12 as 12 = 2 × 6 or = 4 × 3. We have to find a pair, such

that its product is equal to 12 and summation is equal to 8. Only one such
pair is possible i.e. 2 and 6.

2+6=8
2 × 6 = 12

Step 2: Break middle term in terms of the summation of a pair of

numbers such that its product is equal to c i.e. 12 in above case. We will
write 8=6+2

x2+ (6+2)x+ 12
= x2+ 6x +2x + 12

Step 3: Form pairs of terms and factor out GCD of the two pairs
separately.

= x2+ 6x +2x + 12 = (x2+ 6x) +(2x + 12) = x(x+6)+2(x+6)

Step 4: Again factor out GCD of remaining sum of products. Follow

factorization procedure of binomials as explained earlier. Factor out (x+6)
from sum of product,
 =x(x+6)+2(x+6) = (x+6)(x+2)

Example: Do the factorization of polynomials: x2-5x-6

Soluiton: Factors of -6 are 2 × -3; – 3 × 2; 1 × -6; -1 × 6 and the pair summing
up to -5 is (-6,1) as required. Hence,

x2-5x-6 = x2-6x+x-6 = x(x-6)+(x-6) = (x-6)(x+1)

Case 2:When the coefficient of x2 a is an integer other than 1 or -1

General form is given by ax2+bx+c. Any quadratic of form ax2+bx+c is

expressible in the product of two linear polynomials:

ax2+bx+c= (a1x+b1)(a2x+b2)

where a is the product of a1 and a2, c is the product of b1 and b2 and b is the sum
of the product of a1b2 and a2b1. Consider one more example,

(3x+2)(x+4)= 3x2+ 2x +12x +8 = 3x2+14x+ 8

Here, 3 = 3 × 1 = a1 × a2 = a in general form. 14 = 2 × 1 + 4 × 3 = (a1b2) ×

(a2b1) = b in general form. 8 = 4 × 2 = b1 × b2= c in general form. Example:
Factorize 3x2 – 5x – 2

Step 1: find factors of 3 × – 2 = -6.

Step 2: Product of factors of -6 are = -3 × 2; -2 × 3; 6 × -1; -1 × 6. Here,

the possible pair of factor gives a summation of -1 is (-6,1).

Step 3: Break the middle term as the summation of two numbers such
that its product is equal to -6. Calculated above such two numbers are -6
and 1.

Step 4: Breaking the middle term: x2-6x+x-2

Step 5: Making pairs of terms: (3x2-6x)+(x-2)

 Step 6: Factor out GCD for both the pairs: 3x(x-2)+1(x-2). Note: 1 is
factored out from the second bracket as there was no other common
factor.

Step 7: Factor out GCD from the resulting summation of products:

=3x(x-2)+1(x-2) =(x-2)(3x+1)

Factorization of Polynomials by Grouping

We can factorize polynomial containing even number of terms by forming pairs
of terms.

Step 1: Form pairs out of given even number of terms.

Step 2: Try factoring out GCD from all the pairs separately.

Step 3: Lastly, factor out the remaining common factor from the products
formed.

Note: In case you do not get common factors for the pairs formed, try
rearranging the terms and follow the same procedure again. Example: Factorize
x2+ 4xy+4y+x

= (x2 + 4xy) + (4y + x)

=x(x + 4y) + 1( 4y + x)
=(x + 4y)(x + 1)

Factorization of Polynomials by Perfect Squares

A trinomial which can be factored, such that both the factors are same. Then, it
will form a perfect square trinomial. For example, x2+2x+1 = (x + 1)(x + 1) = (x
+ 1)2. There are certain identities which are important for perfect
square trinomials are as follows:

(a+b)2=(a2+2ab+b2)
Example:Do the factorization of polynomials, 4x2+12x+9
Solution: 4x2+12x+9 = (2x)2 + 2(2x)(3x) + 32 = (2x + 3)2

It can be seen from the identities and example above, that a trinomial with first
and last terms as perfect squares and the middle term can be written as twice of
the product of roots of first and last terms then the trinomial can be expressed as
a perfect square.

Factorization of Polynomials by Difference of Squares

This applies mainly to the pair of two polynomial terms which are a perfect
square and expressed as the difference between them.

a2-b2 = (a – b)(a + b)

Example: 9x2 – 4
Solution: 9x2 – 4 = (3x+2)(3x-2) { Using Identity }

Solved Example for You

Question 1: Factorise x2+11x+18
Answer : Consider the quadratic polynomial, x2+11x+18

=x2 + 9x + 2x + 18
=(x2 + 9x) + (2x + 18)
=x(x + 9) + 2(x + 9)
=(x + 9)(x + 2)

Question 2: Name the six types of factoring?

Answer: The six types of factoring are general trinomials, trinomials, difference
in two squares, sum or difference in two cubs, greatest common factor, and
grouping.

Question 3: What is meant by factorization?

Answer: Factorization or factoring refers to the method of taking a composite
number apart into numbers that on multiplication result in the original number.

Question 4: Explain how one can factor and solve polynomials?

Answer: One can solve polynomials by factoring with the help of the following
steps:

Step 1: Write the equation in a form that is correct.

Step 2: Use strategies of factoring.

Step 3: Utilize the Zero Product Property. Moreover, each factor

containing a variable must be set equal to zero.

Step 4: Each factor that was set equal to zero must now be solved. This
can be done by getting the answer on one side while the x on the other
side.

Question 5: How can one factor completely?

Answer: One can factor completely with the following points:

Factor a GCF, if possible, from the expression.

Factor, if possible, a Trinomial.

Factor a Difference that exists between Two Squares as much as possible.

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