1

CHAPTER 4
SPECIAL PRODUCTS & FACTORING

4.1. Special Products
It is an alternative method in finding the products of an algebraic
expression containing special forms of the factors. These products can be
easily solved by applying the Special Product Formulas. The following are the
different types of special products:
I. Product of a Monomial and a Polynomial (Distributive Property)
( ) ad ac ab d c b a + + = + +

Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) = + d 7 c 6 b 5 a 4 x 2 dx 14 cx 12 bx 10 ax 8 +
2. ( ) y x 2 y x 5 xy 6 y x 3
5 5 2 4 3 2
+ =
4 7 8 4 7 3
y x 6 y x 15 y x 18 +
II. Product of the Sum and Difference of the Same Two Terms
( )( )
2 2
b a b a b a = +

Steps to follow in the product of the sum and difference of the same
two terms:
1. Square the first term, minus
2. square the last term.
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2 2
2 2
b 25 a 4 b 5 a 2 b 5 a 2 b 5 a 2 = = +
2. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2
4 2 3
2
3 2 4 2 3 3 2 4 2 3 3 2
c b a 6 z y x 7 c b a 6 z y x 7 c b a 6 z y x 7 = +

8 4 6 2 6 4
c b a 36 z y x 49 =
3. ( )( ) ( ) ( ) y x y x y x y x
2
2 / 1
2
2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1
= = +
4. ( )( )
4 5 3 4 2 7 3 4 4 2 3
z y x 12 z y x 8 y 3 x 2 z y x 4 +
( )( )
4 5 3 4 2 7 4 5 3 4 2 7
z y x 12 z y x 8 z y x 12 z y x 8 + = ( ) ( )
2
4 5 3
2
4 2 7
z y x 12 z y x 8 =

8 10 6 8 4 14
z y x 144 z y x 64 =
5. ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 4891 9 4900 3 70 3 70 3 70 73 67
2 2
= = = + =
2
}
III. Square of Binomial
( )
2 2
2
b ab 2 a b a + + = +

( )
2 2
2
b ab 2 a b a + =

Steps to follow in square of binomial:
1. Square the first term.
2. Twice the product of the first and the last term.
3. Square the last term.
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
2 2
2 2 2
y 4 xy 4 x y 2 y 2 x 2 x y 2 x + = + =
2. ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
2
3 4 3 4 5 2
2
5 2
2
3 4 5 2
z w 5 z w 5 y x 3 2 y x 3 z w 5 y x 3 + + = +

6 8 3 5 2 4 10 4
z w 25 z y x w 30 y x 9 + + =
3. ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
2
2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1
2
2 / 1
2
2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1 2 / 1
y y x 2 x y x y x y x + = =
y y x 2 x
2 / 1 2 / 1
+ =
4. ( )( )
4 5 3 4 2 7 3 4 4 2 3
z y x 12 z y x 8 y 3 x 2 z y x 4
( )( )
4 5 3 4 2 7 4 5 3 4 2 7
z y x 12 z y x 8 z y x 12 z y x 8 = ( )
2
4 5 3 4 2 7
z y x 12 z y x 8 =
( ) ( )( ) ( )
2
4 5 3 4 5 3 4 2 7
2
4 2 7
z y x 12 z y x 12 z y x 8 2 z y x 8 + =

8 10 6 8 7 10 8 4 14
z y x 144 z y x 192 z y x 64 + =
5. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( ) 2916 16 400 2500 4 4 50 2 50 4 50 54
2 2 2 2
= + + = + + = + =

IV. Product of Two Binomials

( )( ) ( ) ab x b a x b x a x
2
+ + + = + +

( )( ) ( ) bd x bc ad acx d cx b ax
2
+ + + = + +

F First x First
O
I
L Last x Last
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) 6 x x 3 2 x 2 3 x 3 x 2 x
2
2
+ = + + = +
2. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( )
2 2
2
b 20 ab 7 a 6 b 4 b 5 ab 3 5 2 4 a 3 2 b 4 a 3 b 5 a 2 + = + + + = +

Outer + Inner
3
3. ( )( )
3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2
z w 7 y x 4 z w 5 y x 3 +
( ) ( ) ( )( )
3 4 3 4 3 5 2 4
2
5 2
z w 7 z w 5 z y x w 4 5 7 3 y x 4 3 + + + =
6 8 3 5 2 4 10 4
z w 35 z y x w y x 12 =
4. ( )( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) 24 50 5 2500 3 8 50 8 3 50 3 50 8 50 47 58
2
+ = + + + = + =
2726 =
5. ( )( ) ( )( ) ( ) ( ) 12 420 1800 2 6 60 6 2 30 60 30 2 60 6 30 62 36 + + = + + + = + + =
2232 =

V. Cube of a Binomial
( )
3 2 2 3
3
b ab 3 b a 3 a b a + + + = +

( )
3 2 2 3
3
b ab 3 b a 3 a b a + =

Steps to follow in cube of a binomial:
1. Cube the first term
2. Three times the square of the first term times the last term
3. Three times the first term times square of the last term
4. Cube the last term
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
3 2 2 3 3
b 5 b 5 a 2 3 b 5 a 2 3 a 2 b 5 a 2 + + + = +

3 2 2 3
b 125 ab 150 b a 60 a 8 + + + =
2. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
3 2 2 3
3 2 2 3 3
y 8 xy 12 y x 6 x y 2 y 2 x 3 y 2 x 3 x y 2 x + = + =
3. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
3
4 3
2
4 3 2 4 3
2
2
3
2
3
4 3 2
z y 4 z y 4 j b 3 3 z y 4 j b 3 3 j b 3 z y 4 j b 3 + =

12 9 8 6 2 4 3 2 4 3 6
z y 64 z jy b 144 z y j b 108 j b 27 + =
4. ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )
3
2 2
2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
xy 6 y x 2 xy 6 y x 2 xy 6 y x 2 xy 6 y x 2 y 3 x xy 2 + = + + = + +
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )
3
2
2
2 2 2
2
2
3
2
xy 6 xy 6 y x 2 3 xy 6 y x 2 3 y x 2 + + + =

6 3 5 4 4 5 3 6
y x 216 y x 216 y x 72 y x 8 + + + =
5. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( ) 27 270 900 1000 3 3 10 3 3 10 3 10 3 10 13
3 2 2 3 3 3
+ + + = + + + = + =
2197 =

4
VI. Product of Binomial and Trinomial Leading to the Sum or Difference of
Two Cubes
( )( )
3 3 2 2
b a b ab a b a + = + +

( )( )
3 3 2 2
b a b ab a b a = + +

Steps to follow:
1. Cube the first term
2. Cube the last term
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( )( ) ( ) ( )
3 3
3 3
2 2
b 125 a 8 b 5 a 2 b 25 ab 10 a 4 b 5 a 2 + = + = + +
2. ( )( ) ( ) ( )
3
3 4
3
5 2 6 8 3 5 2 4 10 4 3 4 5 2
z w 5 y x 3 z w 25 z y x w 15 y x 9 z w 5 y x 3 + = + +

9 12 15 6
z w 125 y x 27 + =
3. ( )( ) ( ) ( )
3
4 3
3
2 8 6 4 3 2 2 4 4 3 2
z y 4 j b 3 z y 16 z jy b 12 j b 9 z y 4 j b 3 = + +

12 9 3 6
z y 64 j b 27 =
4. ( )( ) ( )( )
4 2 3 3 2 4 2 2 4 2 3 3 2 4
y x 36 y x 12 y x 4 xy 6 y x 2 y x 36 y x 12 y x 4 y 3 x xy 2 + + = + +
( ) ( )
6 3 3 6
3
2
3
2
y x 216 y x 8 xy 6 y x 2 + = + =
5. ( )( )( )
8 4 6 6 4 8 2 2
d c 16 d c 4 d c cd 2 d c d 2 c cd + + +
( )( )( )
8 4 6 6 4 8 2 2 2 2
d c 16 d c 4 d c cd 2 d c cd 2 d c + + + =
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )
3
4 2
3
2 4 8 4 6 6 4 8 4 2 2 4
d c 4 d c d c 16 d c 4 d c d c 4 d c = + + =
12 6 6 12
d c 64 d c =

VII. Square of a Trinomial
( ) bc 2 ac 2 ab 2 c b a c b a
2 2 2
2
+ + + + + = + +

Steps to follow in square of a trinomial:
1. Square the following: 1
st
, 2
nd
and 3
rd
terms
2. Twice the product of the following:
a. 1
st
and 2
nd
terms
b. 1
st
and 3
rd
terms
c. 2
nd
and 3
rd
terms

5
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) z 3 y 2 2 z 3 x 2 y 2 x 2 z 3 y 2 x z 3 y 2 x
2 2 2 2
+ + + + + = + +
yz 12 xz 6 xy 4 z 9 y 4 x
2 2 2
+ + + + + =
2. ( )
2
c 4 b 5 a 2 +
( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) c 4 b 5 2 c 4 a 2 2 b 5 a 2 2 c 4 b 5 a 2
2 2 2
+ + + + + =
bc 40 ac 16 ab 20 c 16 b 25 a 4
2 2 2
+ + + =
3. ( )( )
4 3 2 4 3 2
az 15 ay 3 ax 6 z 5 y x 2 a 3
( )( ) ( )
2
4 3 2 4 3 2 4 3 2
az 15 ay 3 ax 6 az 15 ay 3 ax 6 az 15 ay 3 ax 6 = =

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
( )( )
4 3
4 2 3 2
2
4
2
3
2
2
az 15 ay 3 2
az 15 ax 6 2 ay 3 ax 6 2 az 15 ay 3 ax 6
+
+ + + + =


4 3 2 4 2 2 3 2 2 8 2 6 2 4 2
z y a 90 z x a 180 y x a 36 z a 225 y a 9 x a 36 + + + =
4. ( ) ( )
4 3 2 2 6
2
2 3
a 4 y x a 4 y x a 2 y x +
( )( ) ( )
2
4 3 2 2 6 4 3 2 2 6 4 3 2 2 6
a 4 y x a 4 y x a 4 y x a 4 y x a 4 y x a 4 y x + = + + =

( ) ( ) ( ) ( )( ) ( )( )
( )( )
4 3 2
4 2 6 3 2 2 6
2
4
2
3 2
2
2 6
a 4 y x a 4 2
a 4 y x 2 y x a 4 y x 2 a 4 y x a 4 y x
+
+ + + + =

y x a 32 y x a 8 y x a 8 a 16 y x a 16 y x
3 6 2 6 4 3 9 2 8 2 6 4 4 12
+ + + =
y x a 32 y x a 8 a 16 y x a 24 y x
3 6 3 9 2 8 2 6 4 4 12
+ + =
5. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 1 3 2 1 50 2 3 50 2 1 3 50 1 3 50 54
2 2 2 2 2
+ + + + + = + + =
6 100 300 1 9 2500 + + + + + =
= 2916







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4.2. Factoring
Factoring is the reverse process of special product formulas. A polynomial
with integral coefficient is completely factored if:
1. the coefficients are relatively prime, that is, it has no common factor
except 1, and
2. it cannot be expressed as the product of two polynomials of lower
degree and apply any of the following types of factoring listed below.





















Note: To check the validity of your answer, use the special product formulas.

Basic Types of Factoring
I. Common Monomial Factor
( ) d c b a ad ac ab + + = + +

Illustrative Examples:
1. dx 14 cx 12 bx 10 ax 8 + = ( ) d 7 c 6 b 5 a 4 x 2 +
2.
4 7 8 4 7 3
y x 6 y x 15 y x 18 + = ( )
4 4 3 4 3
x 2 xy 5 y 6 y x 3 +
3. ( )
3 4 5 2 3 4 2 4 4 5 8 9 2 6 7 3 4
b a 6 c a 8 bc 5 c b a 5 c b a 30 c b a 40 c b a 25 + = +
Factoring
Common Monomial Factor
Number of Terms
Three (3) Two (2) Four (4) or More
Difference of
Two Squares
Sum or
Difference of
Two Cubes
Perfect
Square
Trinomial
Non - Perfect
Square
Trinomial
Factoring by
Grouping
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II. Difference of Two Squares

( )( ) b a b a b a
2 2
+ =

Steps to follow in factoring the difference of two squares:
1. Extract the square roots of the first and the second terms;
2. express the sum and the difference of the roots as factors.
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) b 5 a 2 b 5 a 2 b 5 a 2 b 25 a 4
2 2
2 2
+ = =
2.
8 4 6 2 6 4
c b a 36 z y x 49 ( ) ( )
2
4 2 3
2
3 2
c b a 6 z y x 7 =
( ) ( )
4 2 3 3 2 4 2 3 3 2
c b a 6 z y x 7 c b a 6 z y x 7 + =
3. ( )
6 8 8 4 6 8 10 6 8 4 14
y 9 x 4 z y x 16 z y x 144 z y x 64 =
( ) ( )
3 4 3 4 8 4 6
y 3 x 2 y 3 x 2 z y x 16 + =
4. ( ) ( )( )
2 2 2 2 4 4 5 5
y 4 x y 4 x xy 2 y 16 x xy 2 xy 32 y x 2 + = =
( )( )( ) y 2 x y 2 x y 4 x xy 2
2 2
+ + =

III. Sum or Difference of Two Cubes
( )( )
2 2 3 3
b ab a b a b a + + = +

( )( )
2 2 3 3
b ab a b a b a + + =

Steps to follow in factoring the sum or difference of two cubes:
1. To obtain the first factor, extract the cube roots of the first and the
second terms of the given expression.
2. To find the second factor,
a. from the first factor; square its first term,
b. take the opposite sign of the product of the first and
second terms, and
c. square its second term.
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( ) ( ) ( )( )
2 2
3 3
3 3
b 25 ab 10 a 4 b 5 a 2 b 5 a 2 b 125 a 8 + + = + = +
2.
9 12 15 6
z w 125 y x 27 + ( ) ( )
3
3 4
3
5 2
z w 5 y x 3 + =
( )( )
6 8 3 5 2 4 10 4 3 4 5 2
z w 25 z y x w 15 y x 9 z w 5 y x 3 + + =

8
3.
12 9 3 6
z y 64 j b 27 ( ) ( )
3
4 3
3
2
z y 4 j b 3 =
( )( )
8 6 4 3 2 2 4 4 3 2
z y 16 z jy b 12 j b 9 z y 4 j b 3 + + =
4. ( ) ( ) ( ) | |
3
3
3
4 2 3 2 9 12 6 3 2 12 2 12 3 8
y 7 z x 5 y x 3 y 343 z x 125 y x 3 y x 1029 z y x 375 = =
( )( )
6 4 3 2 8 4 3 4 2 3 2
y 49 z y x 35 z x 25 y 7 z x 5 y x 3 + + =
5. ( ) ( )( )
3 3 3 3 6 6 7 7
b a b a ab 2 b a ab 2 ab 2 b a 2 + = =
( )( )( )( )
2 2 2 2
b ab a b a b ab a b a ab 2 + + + + =

IV. Perfect Square Trinomial
( )
2
2 2
b a b ab 2 a + = + +

( )
2
2 2
b a b ab 2 a = +

Steps to follow in factoring perfect square trinomial:
1. Extract the square roots of the first and the third terms of the given
expression (terms that are perfect squares).
2. Raise the whole expression by 2 or squared,
3. Check the middle term of the given expression (term that is not a
perfect square) by solving twice the product of the 1
st
and 2
nd

terms obtained in step 1.
Illustrative Examples:
1. ( )
2
2
2 x 4 x 4 x + = + +
Checking:
Middle term = 2 times the product of the first & second terms
( )( ) 2 x 2 x 4 =
x 4 x 4 =
2. ( )
2
2 2
y 2 x y 4 xy 4 x = +
Checking:
Middle term = 2 times the product of the first & second terms
( )( ) y 2 x 2 xy 4 =
xy 4 xy 4 =

9
3.
6 8 3 5 2 4 10 4
z w 25 z y x w 30 y x 9 + + ( )
2
3 4 5 2
z w 5 y x 3 + =
Checking:
Middle term = 2 times the product of the first & second terms
( )( )
3 4 5 2 3 5 2 4
z w 5 y x 3 2 z y x w 30 =
3 5 2 4 3 5 2 4
z y x w 30 z y x w 30 =
4. ( ) ( )
2
2 2 2 2
c 6 b a 2 c 36 bc 12 b a 2 ac 72 abc 24 ab 2 = + = +
5. ( ) ( ) ( ) | | ( )
2 2 2
3 y x 3 y x 9 y x 6 y x + + = + + = + + + +

V. Non - Perfect Square Trinomial

( ) ( )( ) b x a x ab x b a x
2
+ + = + + +

( ) ( )( ) d cx b ax bd x bc ad acx
2
+ + = + + +

Illustrative Examples:
1. ( )( ) 1 x 4 x 4 x 5 x
2
+ + = + +
Possible Factors Product ( ) b a Sum ( ) b a+ Remark
2 & 2 4 2 2 = 5 2 2 = + rejected
4 & 1 4 1 4 = 5 1 4 = + accepted

2. ( )( ) 2 x 3 x 6 x x
2
+ = +
Possible Factors Product ( ) b a Sum ( ) b a+ Remark
6 & 1 6 1 6 = 1 1 6 = + rejected
3 & 2 6 2 3 = 1 2 3 = + rejected
3 & 2
( ) 6 2 3 = ( ) 1 2 3 = + accepted

3. ( ) ( ) b 4 a 3 b 5 a 2 b 20 ab 7 a 6
2 2
+ = +
Possible Factors Sum of the Product of Outer & Inner Remark
( ) ( ) b 4 a b 5 a 6 + ( )( ) ( )( ) | | ab 7 ab 1 5 4 6 = + rejected
( ) ( ) b 4 a 3 b 5 a 2 + ( )( ) ( )( ) | | ab 7 ab 3 5 4 2 = + rejected
( ) ( ) b 4 a 3 b 5 a 2 + ( )( ) ( )( ) | | ab 7 ab 3 5 4 2 = + accepted

10
4.
6 8 3 5 2 4 10 4
z w 35 z y x w y x 12 ( )( )
3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2
z w 7 y x 4 z w 5 y x 3 + =

Possible Factors
Sum of the Product of Outer & Inner =
Middle Term
Remark
( )( )
3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2
z w 7 y x 6 z w 5 y x 2 + ( ) ( )( ) | |
3 5 2 4 3 5 2 4
z y x w z y x w 6 5 7 2 = + rejected
( )( )
3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2
z w 7 y x 4 z w 5 y x 3 + ( ) ( )( ) | |
3 5 2 4 3 5 2 4
z y x w z y x w 4 5 7 3 = + rejected
( )( )
3 4 5 2 3 4 5 2
z w 7 y x 4 z w 5 y x 3 + ( ) ( ) | |
3 5 2 4 3 5 2 4
z y x w z y x w 4 5 7 3 = + accepted

5.
9 2 5 6 10
y x 15 y x 10 y x 5 + ( )
8 4 4 8 2
y 3 y x 2 x y x 5 + =
( )( )
4 4 4 4 2
y 3 x y x y x 5 + =
( )( )( )
4 4 2 2 2 2 2
y 3 x y x y x y x 5 + + =
( )( )( )( )
4 4 2 2 2
y 3 x y x y x y x y x 5 + + + =

VI. Factoring by Grouping
( )( ) y x b a by bx ay ax + + = + + +

Proof:
( ) ( ) by bx ay ax by bx ay ax + + + = + + +
( ) ( ) y x b y x a + + + =
( )( ) b a y x + + =
( )( ) y x b a + + =
Illustrative Examples:
1.
3 2 3 3 2 2 2 3
y b 15 y a 12 x b 5 x a 4 + ( ) ( )
3 2 3 3 2 2 2 3
y b 15 y a 12 x b 5 x a 4 + =
( ) ( ) ( )( )
3 2 2 3 2 3 3 2 3 2
y 3 x b 5 a 4 b 5 a 4 y 3 b 5 a 4 x + = + =
2.
3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4
y c 27 x c y b 27 x b + ( ) ( )
3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4
y c 27 y b 27 x c x b + =
( ) ( ) ( )( )
3 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 4 3
y 27 x c b c b y 27 c b x + = + =
( )( )( )( )
2 2 2 2 2 2
y 9 xy 3 x y 3 x c b c b + + + =
( )( )( )( )( )
2 2 2 2
y 9 xy 3 x y 3 x c b c b c b + + + + =
11
3. 4 y 9 xy 6 x
2 2
+ ( ) 4 y 9 xy 6 x
2 2
+ = ( ) ( )
2 2
2 y 3 x =
( ) | | ( ) | | 2 y 3 x 2 y 3 x + =
( )( ) 2 y 3 x 2 y 3 x + =
4.
2 2
y 25 xy 20 x 4 25 ( )
2 2
y 25 xy 20 x 4 25 + + = ( ) ( )
2 2
y 5 x 2 5 + =
( ) | | ( ) | | y 5 x 2 5 y 5 x 2 5 + + + =
( )( ) y 5 x 2 5 y 5 x 2 5 + + =