Practice Factoring ax2 + bx + c’s – 2010

1 Factoring expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c

1.1 Factoring out the GCF

Sometimes expressions of the form ax2 + bx + c can be factored so that one factor is of the form x2 + bx + c
which we know how to factor by the Sum/Product Rule. Here are a few examples:

• Factor 2x2 + 14x + 24 • Factor −3x3 y − 33x2 y − 54xy

2x2 + 14x + 24 = 2(x2 + 7x + 12 −3x3 y − 33x2 y − 54xy = −3xy(x2 + 11x + 18)

= 2(x + 3)(x + 4) = −3xy(x + 2)(x + 9)

Your turn, factor:

1. −6x2 − 90x − 300 2. 7x2 + 98x + 343 3. 2x2 + 10x − 72

1.2 Sometimes you can’t factor out a GCF, and you have to “split the middle”

When you factor by “splitting the middle” you are relying on the fact that when an expression like
(2x + 3)(3x − 5) is partially simplified into 6x2 − 10x + 9x − 15 the product of the two middle terms
(−10x) · (9x) is equal to the product of the two outer terms (6x2 ) · (−15). Namely they are both equal to
−90x2 in this case. But generally this is always true. A proof of this is not beyond our reach, so it’s a
good thing for you to think about - why is this true?

“Split the Middle.” Notice that the example above (2x + 3)(3x − 5) in it’s simplest form is 6x2 − x − 15
after we combine the two, like, middle terms. To factor 6x2 − x − 15 we must split the middle back to
6x2 − 10x + 9x − 15 and then factor by grouping. The entire process is below

6x2 − x − 15 = 6x2 − 10x + 9x − 15 Split the middle

= (6x2 − 10x) + (9x − 15) Group so no group’s GCF is 1
= 2x(3x − 5) + 3(3x − 5) Factor out the GCF
= (3x − 5)(2x + 3) Factor out (3x − 5) from each term

Now we’ll try a real example. Factor 4x2 + 8x + 3

4x2 + 8x + 3 = 4x2 + 6x + 2x + 3 Notice (6x)(2x) = (4x2 )(3)

= (4x2 + 2x) + (6x + 3) Group so no group’s GCF is 1
= 2x(2x + 1) + 3(2x + 1)
= (2x + 1)(2x + 3)
Your turn, factor

1. 4x2 + 16x + 15 3. 4x2 + 31x − 45 5. 12x2 + 37x + 3

2. 4x2 + 8x − 45 4. 12x2 − 4x − 5 6. −12x2 + 29x − 15

1.3 It’s harder when you’re not sure

In the following problems, there will be two prime polynomials: expressions that cannot be factored with
real integer values. Factor all possible expressions, and write prime if an expression cannot be factored.

1. 20x2 − 28x − 3 3. −9x2 + 18x − 5 5. x2 + 36 − 12x

2. 64x2 + 52x + 3 4. 12x2 − 17x + 30 6. 2x2 − 5x + 45