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Factor by Grouping

The document provides steps for factoring polynomials by grouping: 1) The polynomial must have 4 terms. Factor the first two terms separately from the last two terms using GCF. 2) Factor out the common term from the two groupings. 3) Check that the factored expression is completely factored, as differences of squares may still need further factoring. Examples are provided to demonstrate factoring polynomials of various variables by grouping and identifying greatest common factors.

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Thania Gomez Vargas
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7 views

Factor by Grouping

The document provides steps for factoring polynomials by grouping: 1) The polynomial must have 4 terms. Factor the first two terms separately from the last two terms using GCF. 2) Factor out the common term from the two groupings. 3) Check that the factored expression is completely factored, as differences of squares may still need further factoring. Examples are provided to demonstrate factoring polynomials of various variables by grouping and identifying greatest common factors.

Uploaded by

Thania Gomez Vargas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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R.

4 Factoring by Grouping
Objective: After completing this section, students should be able
to factor polynomials by grouping.
Steps for factoring by grouping:

1. A polynomial must have 4 terms to factor by grouping.


ex. x 3  x 2  2 x  2
2. We factor the first two terms and the second two terms
separately. Use the rules for GCF to factor these.

The GCF of x 3  x 2 2 x  2 The GCF of


x 3  x 2 is x 2 . x 2  x  1 2  x  1 2 x  2 is 2.

3. Finally, we factor out the "common factor" from both terms.


This means we write the  x  1 term in front and the 2 terms
left over, x 2 +2 , in a separate set of parentheses.
 x  1  x 2  2 
Examples:
3 2
1. 6 x  9 x  4 x  6
The GCF of 6 x 3  9 x 2 4 x  6 The GCF of
6 x 3  9 x 2 is 3x 2 . 3x 2  2 x  3 2  2 x  3 4 x  6 is 2.

  2 x  3 3 x 2  2 
These two terms must be the same.

3 2
2. x  x  x  1
The GCF of x3  x 2  x  1 The GCF of
x 3  x 2 is x 2 . x 2  x  1 1 x  1 x  1 is 1.

  x  1  x 2  1
These two terms must be the same.
Examples:
3 2
3. x  2 x  x  2
The GCF of x3  2 x 2  x  2 The GCF of
x 3  2 x 2 is x 2 . x 2  x  2  1 x  2   x  2 is  1.

These two terms must be the same.


  x  2   x 2  1

You must always check to see if the expression is factored completely. This
expression can still be factored using the rules for difference of two squares. (see 6.2)

  x  2   x 2  1
This is a difference of two squares.

  x  2  x  1 x  1
Examples:
2 2 2 2
4. x y  ay  ab  bx
The GCF of x 2 y 2  ay 2 ab  bx 2 The GCF of
y 2  x 2  a  b  a  x 
2
x 2 y 2  ay 2 is y 2 . ab  bx 2 is b.

  y 2  b  x 2  a 
These two terms must be the same.
You can rearrange the terms so that they are the same.

3 2
5. x  x  2 x  2
The GCF of x3  x 2 2 x  2 The GCF of
x 3  x 2 is x 2 . x 2  x  1 2  x  1 2 x  2 is 2.

These two terms must be the same.


Not Factorable
But they are not the same. So this
polynomial is not factorable.
Try These:
Factor by grouping.
3 2
a. 8 x  2 x  12 x  3

b. 4 x 3  6 x 2  6 x  9

c. x 3  x 2  x  1

2
d. 3a  6b  5a  10ab
If you did not get these answers, click the green
Solutions: button next to the solution to see it worked out.

a.  4 x  1  2 x 2  3

b.  2 x  3  2 x 2  3

c.  x  1 x  1 x  1

d.  a  2b 3  5a 
3 2
a. 8 x  2 x  12 x  3

3 2
The GCF of 8 x  2 x 12 x  3 The GCF of
8 x3  2 x 2 is 2x 2 . 12 x  3 is 3.
2 x  4 x  1 3  4 x  1
2

  4 x  1  2 x 2  3
BACK
3 2
b. 4 x  6 x  6 x  9

3 2
The GCF of 4x  6x 6 x  9 The GCF of
4 x 3  6 x 2 is 2x 2 . 6 x  9 is  3.
2 x  2 x  3 3  2 x  3
2
When you factor a negative out of
a positive, you will get a negative.

  2 x  3  2 x 2  3
BACK
3 2
c. x  x  x  1

The GCF of
x3  x 2  x  1 The GCF of
x 3  x 2 is x 2 .
x 2  x  1 1 x  1  x  1 is  1.

  x  1  x  1
2
Now factor the difference of squares.

BACK
  x  1 x  1 x  1
2
d. 3a  6b  5a  10ab

The GCF of 3a  6b 5a 2  10ab The GCF of


3a  6b is 3. 5a 2  10ab is 5a.
3  a  2b  5a  a  2b 

  a  2b 3  5a 
BACK

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