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Factoring by Grouping

The document provides a step-by-step method for factoring trinomials of the form ax^2 + bx + c by grouping. The steps are: 1) find the GCF, 2) multiply a and c to find factors that sum to b, 3) rewrite the middle term using those factors, 4) group into binomial pairs, 5) factor out common terms from each pair, 6) factor out the common binomial, and 7) check the result. An example demonstrates factoring 8x^3 - 34x^2 + 30x using this method.

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Lazaro Larry Martin Soris
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68 views2 pages

Factoring by Grouping

The document provides a step-by-step method for factoring trinomials of the form ax^2 + bx + c by grouping. The steps are: 1) find the GCF, 2) multiply a and c to find factors that sum to b, 3) rewrite the middle term using those factors, 4) group into binomial pairs, 5) factor out common terms from each pair, 6) factor out the common binomial, and 7) check the result. An example demonstrates factoring 8x^3 - 34x^2 + 30x using this method.

Uploaded by

Lazaro Larry Martin Soris
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FACTORING TRINOMIALS OF THE FORM ax2 + bx + c BY GROUPING (the a c Method)

Step 1: Look for a GCF and factor it out first. Step 2: Multiply the coefficient of the leading term a by the constant term c. List the factors of this product (a c) to find the pair of factors, f1 and f2, that sums to b, the coefficient of the middle term. When c is positive, factors of a c have the same sign o o o If the middle term bx is positive, both factors are positive. If the middle term bx is negative, both factors are negative. Find the pair of factors that adds to b.

When c is negative, factors of a c have opposite signs o o The larger of these factors has the same sign as the middle term. Find the pair of factors that subtracts to b.

Step 3: Rewrite (split) the middle term bx using the factors, f1 and f2, found in Step 2. The expression now has 4 terms:

ax2 + bx + c = ax 2 + f1x + f2 x + c
Step 4: Group the terms of the expression into binomial pairs as shown:

(ax

+ f1x + ( f2 x + c )

Step 5: Factor out a gcf from each pair. If the expression can be factored by grouping, the terms will share a common "binomial" factor. Step 6: Factor out the common binomial factor to write the factorization. Step 7: Check the result by multiplying.

EXAMPLE: Factor: 8x3 34x2 + 30x Step 1: Factor out the GCF 2x: 8x3 34x2 + 30x = 2x (4x2 17x + 15)

Step 2: Multiply a c. Here, a = 4, c = 15, and a c = 60. Next, list the factors of 60 to find the pair that adds to the middle term 17x. Note that the factors of 60 are both negative. Factors of 60 1 60 2 30 3 20 4 15 5 12 6 10 Sum of Factors 61 32 23 19 17 16

Factors of 60 that add to 17 are 5 and 12. Step 3: Rewrite the middle term 17x using the factors found in Step 2, 5 and 12: 8x3 34x2 + 30x = = 2x (4x2 17x + 15) 2x (4x2 5x 12x + 15)

Step 4: Group the terms into binomial pairs as shown: 8x3 34x2 + 30x = = 2x (4x2 5x 12x + 15) 2x [(4x2 5x) + (12x + 15)]

Step 5: Factor out a gcf from each group of terms. The gcf of the first group, (4x2 5x), is x; the gcf of the second group, (12x + 15), is 3: 8x3 34x2 + 30x = = 2x [(4x2 5x) + (12x + 15)] 2x [x (4x 5) 3 (4x 5)]

The terms now share a common binomial factor: (4x 5). Step 6: Factor out the common binomial factor (4x 5) to write the factorization: 8x3 34x2 + 30x = = 2x [x (4x 5) 3 (4x 5)] 2x (4x 5)(x 3)

Step 7: Check the result by multiplying: 2x (4x 5)(x 3) = = = 2x (4x2 12x 5x + 15) 2x (4x2 17x + 15) 8x3 34x2 + 30x

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