2 Identities and Factorization

Lesson
Meaning of Identities
Worksheet 2.1
Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objectives: 1. Distinguish between equations and identities.

2. Learn how to find the unknown constant(s) in an identity.

Key Points
1. An equation that can be satisfied by ALL values of the unknown(s) is called an identity.
2. We use the symbol ‘≣’ instead of ‘=’ to represent an identity.

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1

Prove that each of the following equations is Prove that each of the following equations is
an identity. an identity.
(a) 4x – 2(3x – 1) = –2x + 2 (a) 6 + 3(2x – 1) = 6x + 3
(b) 5 + 3(1 + 4x) = 4(3x + 2) (b) 2(4x – 3) – 5x = –3(2 – x)

Solution Solution
(a)
Expand and simplify the algebraic expressions
on both sides of an equation first.

(a)

(b) (b)

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Example 2 (Level 2) Let’s Try 2

Determine whether each of the following Determine whether each of the following
equations is an identity. equations is an identity.
(a) –x(2x – 1) + 3x = –2x2 + 4x (a) 2x – 3x2 = –3x(x + 1) + 5x
(b) 4(x + 1)(x – 3) = 4x(x – 1) – 12 (b) (2x + 3)(1 – x) = –2x(x + 1) + 3

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

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Key Points
We can make use of the following two properties to find the unknown constants in an identity.
Property 1: For an identity involving polynomials only, the terms on both sides after expansion and simplification
are the same.
Property 2: An identity can be satisfied by all values of the unknown(s).

Example 3 (Level 1) Let’s Try 3.1

In each of the following identities, A and B are In each of the following identities, A and B are
constants. Find the values of A and B. constants. Find the values of A and B.
(a) 3(x – 4) ≡ A + Bx (a) –2(x – 7) ≡ A + Bx
(b) (x + 5)(x – 3) ≡ x2 + Ax + B (b) –(x + 1)(x – 4) ≡ Ax2 + 3x + B

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

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(b) (b)

Let’s Try 3.2

In each of the following identities, A and B are constants. Find the values of A and B.
(a) 5(x + 2) ≡ A(x + 4) + B (b) (2x – B)(x + 3) ≡ 2x2 – 2x + A

Solution
(a) (b)

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Example 4 (Level 2) Let’s Try 4

2
If (Ax + 3)(x – 2) ≡ B(2 – x) + C – x , where A, If (x + 2)(5x – A) ≡ x(Bx – C) – 6, where A, B
B and C are constants, find the values of A, B and C are constants, find the values of A, B and
and C. C.

Solution Solution

Group the like terms together after expanding

the expressions on both sides.

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Lesson Identity of the Difference of

Worksheet 2.2A Two Squares

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objectives: 1. Learn the identity of the difference of two squares.

2. Use the identity to expand expressions or find the values of expressions.

Key Points
The identity of the difference of two squares:
(a + b)(a – b)  a2 – b2

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1

Expand the following expressions. Expand the following expressions.
(a) (x + 9)(x – 9) (a) (x + 3)(x – 3)
(b) (4x + 3)(4x – 3) (b) (7x + 2)(7x – 2)
(c) (5x – 7y)(5x + 7y) (c) (3x – 5y)(3x + 5y)

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

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Example 2 (Level 2) Let’s Try 2

Expand the following expressions. Expand the following expressions.
(a) (–4 + 5p)(4 + 5p) (a) (–4h – 1)(1 – 4h)
(b) 5(4 – a2)(4 + a2) (b) –5(2b + a2)(a2 – 2b)
(c) (x + 3)(x – 3)(x2 + 9) (c) (2 – k)(2 + k)(4 + k2)

Solution Solution
(a) (a)
Rewrite the expression into the form
(a + b)(a – b) first.

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

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Example 3 (Level 2) Let’s Try 3

Expand the following expressions. Expand the following expressions.
( x  8 y )( x  8 y ) (6 s  t )(6s  t )
(a) (a)
4 9
 v  v a  a 
(b)  5u   5u   (b)   2b    2b 
 3  3 8  8 

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

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Example 4 (Level 2) Let’s Try 4

 y  y  3y  x 3y 
Expand  x   2 x   . Expand  x      .
 4  2  2  2 4 
Solution Solution

Make the denominators of the fractions in each pair

of brackets equal first.

Example 5 (Level 1) Let’s Try 5

Evaluate the following without using a Evaluate the following expressions without
calculator. using a calculator.
(a) 108  92 (b) 75  85 (a) 109  111 (b) 82  78
Solution Solution

(a) (a)
Express 108 and 92 in the form of (a + b)
and (a – b) respectively.

(b) (b)

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Lesson
Identities of the Perfect Square
Worksheet 2.2B
Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objectives: 1. Learn the identities of the perfect square.

2. Use the identities to expand expressions or find the values of expressions.

Key Points
The identities of the perfect square:
(i) (a + b)2  a2 + 2ab + b2 (ii) (a – b)2  a2 – 2ab + b2

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1

Expand the following expressions. Expand the following expressions.
2 2
(a) (x + 6) (b) (5 + 7n) (a) (x + 3)2 (b) (2 + 5y)2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

Example 2 (Level 1) Let’s Try 2

Expand the following expressions. Expand the following expressions.
2 2
(a) (x – 8) (b) (4c – 9d) (a) (x – 6)2 (b) (9x – 5y)2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

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Example 3 Let’s Try 3.1

Expand the following expressions. Expand the following expressions.
2
(a) (–2x – 7y) (Level 1) (a) (–2a – 5b)2
2 2
 3p   t
(b)   2q  (Level 2) (b)  s  
 4   4
2 2
(c) 3(5r + 2s ) (Level 2) (c) –2(3m2 – n)2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)
Note that 3(5r + 2s2)2 ≠ (15r + 6s2)2.

Let’s Try 3.2 (Level 2)

(a) Expand (x + 2y)2.
(b) Hence, expand (c – 4d + 2y)2.
Solution
(a)

(b)
Note that the expression is in the form of
(c – 4d + 2y)2.
x

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Example 4 (Level 2) Let’s Try 4.1

2
(a) Expand (5x – 3y) . (a) Expand (2p – q)2.
(b) Hence, expand (5x – 3y – 2)(5x – 3y + 2). (b) Hence, expand (2p – q + 3)(2p – q – 3).

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)
Note that the expression is in the form of
(5x – 3y – 2)(5x – 3y + 2).
a b a b

Let’s Try 4.2

(a) Expand (4h + 7k)2.
(b) Hence, expand (4h + 7k – 2)(4h + 7k + 2).

Solution
(a)

(b)

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Example 5 (Level 1) Let’s Try 5

Find the value of each of the following without Find the value of each of the following without
using a calculator. using a calculator.
(a) 3012 (a) 512
(b) 1982 (b) 1972

Solution Solution
(a) (a)
2 2
Express 301 in the form of (300 + a) .

(b) (b)
Express 1982 in the form of (200 – b)2.

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Lesson Factorize Expressions by

Worksheet 2.3A Taking Out Common Factors

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objective: Factorize an algebraic expression by taking out the common factors.

Key Points
If all the terms of an algebraic expression have common factor(s), the expression can be factorized by taking out the common
factor(s).

e.g. (i) 2x + 2y = 2(x + y) (ii) px + py – pz = p(x + y – z)

Let’s Check
In each of the following, write down the common factor of the given expressions.
(a) 4p, 4q _____________ (b) 7y, xy _____________

(c) –2m, –8n _____________ (d) x2, 3x _____________

(e) ad, bd, cd _____________ (f) tx, –st, sty _____________

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 3a + 3c (a) 4p – 4q
(b) –2b – 8 (b) –15r – 6
(c) –4x + 32 (c) –25u + 10

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

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Example 2 (Level 1) Let’s Try 2

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 15p – 18q + 24r (a) 4a + 6b – 8c
(b) 4xy – y + 6y2 (b) a + 3ab – 2a2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

Example 3 Let’s Try 3.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 6at – 2t (Level 1) (a) 3ab – 6a
(b) –4xy3 – 22x2y (Level 1) (b) –2xy – 6x2y
(c) 6a2 – 18a3b + 12a2b2 (Level 2) (c) 2b2 – 4ab3+ 8a2b2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

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Let’s Try 3.2 (Level 2)

Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 5y + 20y2 – 10y3 (b) 8p3q2 – 4p2q3 + 24p3q3 (c) 12a3bc + 9a2b2c – 6abc3

Solution
(a)

(b)

(c)

Example 4 (Level 2) Let’s Try 4.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) (x + 1)y + 3(x + 1) (a) 2(x – 4) – y(x – 4)
(b) (r – 3)p – 5(3 – r) (b) 2(1 – r) – (r – 1)p
(c) 3(a + b)2 – (7b + 5a)(a + b) (c) (a – b)(2a + b) + 4(a – b)2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

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Let’s Try 4.2

Factorize the following expressions.
(a) (2x + y)(9x – 5y) – x(10x + 5y)
(b) –3(a – b)2 + 8(b – a)

Solution
(a)

(b)

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Lesson Factorize Expressions by

Worksheet 2.3B the Grouping Terms Method

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objective: Factorize an algebraic expression by the grouping terms method.

Key Points
We can use the grouping terms method to factorize some expressions with no factors common to all the terms.
e.g. ax + ay + bx + by
= (ax + ay) + (bx + by)  Step 1 Group the terms with common factors into pairs.
= a(x + y) + b(x + y)  Step 2 Take out the common factor in each pair.
= (x + y)(a + b)  Step 3 Take out the common factor of the pairs.

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) as – at + 5s – 5t (a) df – ef + 3d – 3e
(b) ac + b2 – bc – ab (b) yz + x2 – xz – xy

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)
Rearrange the terms first.

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Let’s Try 1.2

Factorize the following expressions.
(a) x + y + yz + xz
(b) (u + 2)v – 2 – u

Solution
(a)

(b)

Example 2 Let’s Try 2.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
2
(a) 9x – 15y – 12xy + 20y (Level 1) (a) 4ac – 6ab – 6c2 + 9bc
(b) 8ax – 24b – 12a + 16bx (Level 2) (b) 9sx – 3ty + 9tx – 3sy

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)
Take out the common factor of all the terms
first before grouping the terms.

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Let’s Try 2.2 (Level 2)

Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 14x – 21y + (2x – 3y)2
(b) 4h2n – 6kn2 – 2hkn + 12hn2

Solution
(a)

(b)

Example 3 (Level 2) Let’s Try 3

Factorize ax – 2bx – cx – ay + 2by + cy. Factorize 3hr + kr – 2r – 9h – 3k + 6.

Solution Solution

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Lesson Factorize Expressions by Using the

Worksheet 2.3C Identity of the Difference of Two Squares

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objective: Factorize an algebraic expression by using the identity of the difference of two squares.

Key Points
We can use the identity of the difference of two squares to factorize expressions:
a2 – b2 ≡ (a + b)(a – b)

e.g. x2 – 4 = x2 – 22  Step 1 Express the expression in the form of a2 – b2.

= (x + 2)(x – 2)  Step 2 Factorize the expression by using a2 – b2 ≡ (a + b)(a – b).

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
2
(a) x – 36 (a) x2 – 64 (b) 81 – y2
(b) 81x2 – 25y2 (c) 49 – 16a2 (d) 4x2 – 25y2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c)

(d)

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Example 2 (Level 2) Let’s Try 2.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) (p – 2q)2 – 4 (a) (x – y)2 – 81
(b) 16 – 9(2a + b)2 (b) 1 – 16(m + n)2
(c) (7h + 9k)2 – (2h – 9k)2 (c) (2a + b)2 – (a – 3b)2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

Let’s Try 2.2

Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 9a2 – 25(a + 3b)2 (b) 4(5c + 2d)2 – (c + 3d)2

Solution
(a) (b)

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Example 3 Let’s Try 3

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 32x2 – 18 (Level 1) (a) 32 – 2p2
(b) 24xy2 – 6x3 (Level 1) (b) 3a3 – 27ab2
(c) 7a(b – 3)2 – 28a (Level 2) (c) 20x2y – 5y(x – y)2

Solution Solution
(a) (a)
Take out the common factor of all the
terms first.

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

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Example 4 (Level 2) Let’s Try 4.1

2 2
Factorize p – q + pr + qr. Factorize ab – bc + a2 – c2.

Solution Solution

Group the terms into two pairs first.

Let’s Try 4.2

Factorize x2 – 3x – 16y2 – 12y.

Solution

Example 5 (Level 1) Let’s Try 5

2 2
Evaluate 55 – 45 without using a calculator. Evaluate 972 – 932 without using a calculator.

Solution Solution

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Lesson Factorize Expressions by Using

Worksheet 2.3D the Identities of Perfect Square

Name: _________________________ Class: ___________

Objective: Factorize an algebraic expression by using the identities of perfect square.

Key Points
We can use the identities of perfect square to factorize expressions:
(i) a2 + 2ab + b2 ≡ (a + b)2
(ii) a2 – 2ab + b2 ≡ (a – b)2

e.g. x2 + 2x + 1 = x2 + 2x + 12  Step 1 Express two of the terms in the form of a2 and b2.
= x2 + 2(x)(1) + 12  Step 2 Check whether the remaining term can be written as 2ab or –2ab.
2
= (x + 1)  Step 3 Factorize the expression by using
a2 + 2ab + b2 ≡ (a + b)2 or a2 – 2ab + b2 ≡ (a – b)2.

Let’s Check
Determine whether each of the following expressions can be factorized by using the identities of
the perfect square. If yes, put a ‘’ in the box; otherwise, put a ‘’.
1. x2 + 2xy + y2 2. x2 – 2xy – y2
3. q2 + 4q + 16 4. p2 – 6p + 9
5. 4s2 – 8s + 1 6. 9t2 + 6t – 1
7. 4x2 + 9y2 – 12xy 8. 16x2 – 25y2 – 40xy

Example 1 (Level 1) Let’s Try 1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) x2 + 12x + 36 (a) x2 – 10x + 25
(b) 100y2 – 20y + 1 (b) 64y2 + 16y + 1

Solution Solution
(a) (a)

(b) (b)

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Example 2 (Level 1) Let’s Try 2.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
(a) x2 + 16xy + 64y2 (a) x2 – 18xy + 81y2
(b) –8p2 + 40pq – 50q2 (b) –36a2 + 12ab – b2
(c) 18p2 + 48pq + 32q2
Solution
(a) Solution
(a)

(b) (b)
Take out the common factor of all the terms.

(c)

Let’s Try 2.2

Factorize the following expressions.
(a) 49x2 + 4y2 – 28xy (Level 1)
3 2 2
(b) –3x + 30x y – 75xy (Level 2)

Solution
(a)

(b)

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Example 3 (Level 2) Let’s Try 3

2
Factorize 4(c + 5) + 28(c + 5) + 49. Factorize 25 + 30(x – 1) + 9(x – 1)2.

Solution Solution

Example 4 (Level 2) Let’s Try 4.1

Factorize the following expressions. Factorize the following expressions.
2 2
(a) 9x – 16y + 40y – 25 (a) x2 – 9y2 – 4x + 4
(b) 16u2 + 49v2 – 56uv – 4 (b) h2 + 4k2 – 4hk – 1

Solution Solution
(a)
Rearrange the terms into two groups first.

(a)

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(b) (b)

Let’s Try 4.2

(a) Factorize 64x2 – 16xy + y2.
(b) Hence, factorize 64x2 – 16xy + y2 – 8x + y.

Solution
(a)

(b)

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