Teach A Level Maths

Vol. 1: AS Core Modules

3: Quadratic Expressions
Expanding Brackets and
Factorisation

Christine Crisp
 Quadratic Expressions

Module C1

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 Quadratic Expressions

Expanding Quadratic Expressions

e.g. 1
( x 5)( x 2)
x 2 2 x 5 x 10
x 2 3 x 10
2 A square of a quantity
e.g. 2 ( x 3) means multiply by itself
( x 3)( x 3)
2
x 3x 3x 9
x2 6x 9
 Quadratic Expressions
Exercises

2
1. ( x 3)( x 4) x 4 x 3 x 12
2
x x 12
2. ( x 4)( x 5) 2
x x 20

3. ( 2 x 1)( x 2) 2
2x 5x 2
2
4. ( x 4) ( x 4)( x 4)
2
x 8 x 16
 Quadratic Expressions
Factorising
Method 1: Common Factors
e.g. x 2 3 x means
x x 3 x
so, x is a factor of both terms. It is a
common factor

So, x 3 x x ( x 3)
2

Common factor
 Quadratic Expressions
Exercises
Factorise the following by taking out the
common factors
2
1. x 5x x ( x 5)
2. 3x2 6x 3 x ( x 2)

2
3. 2
2x 4x 8 2( x 2 x 4)
 Quadratic Expressions

4. x2 4x x ( x 4)

5. x 3 3x 2 x 2 ( x 3)

6. 4 x 12 y 4( x 3 y )

7. 3x2 6x 9 3( x 2 2 x 3)

8. 5 x (a b) 2 y (a b) (a b)(5 x 2 y )
 Quadratic Expressions
Factorising
Method 2: The difference of two squares
(Square roots)
2
e.g.1 x 9 ( x 3)( x 3)
A minus sign

One square Another square

e.g.2 4 x 2 25 y 2 (2 x 5 y )(2 x 5 y )
 Quadratic Expressions
Exercises
1. 81 y 2 (9 y )(9 y )
2. 4x2 9 (2 x 3)(2 x 3)
2 2 Common
3. 3 12 x 3(1 4 x ) factor first!
Think! 3(1 2 x )(1 2 x )
4. 9 x 16 y (3 x 4 y )(3 x 4 y )
2 2

What about x2 4 ?

Cant do it! Its NOT a difference

 Quadratic Expressions
Factorising
Method 3: Trinomials
2
e.g. 1 x 3x 4 22
or
41
( x 4 )( x 1 )
The factors 2 2 could4 not
x give 3 for the
coefficient of x, so we1 try
x 41
We need 3x so we want 4x and +1x.
3x is called the linear term
 Quadratic Expressions

Method 3: Trinomials
2 61
e.g. 2 x 7x 6 23
( x 6)( x 1)

Constant positive
Signs of factors are the same
 Quadratic Expressions
Exercises
Constant positive
Signs of factors are the same

2
1. x 5x 6 ( x 2 )( x 3 )

2. x2 5x 6 ( x 2 )( x 3 )

3. x 2 7 x 12 ( x 3 )( x 4 )
 Quadratic Expressions
Exercises
Constant negative
Signs of factors are different

4. x 2 5x 6 ( x 1 )( x 6 )

5. x 2 5x 6 ( x 6 )( x 1 )

6. x 2 2x 3 ( x 1 )( x 3 )
 Quadratic Expressions
Exercises
2
7. x 5x 6 ( x 2)( x 3)
8. 2
x 4 x 21 ( x 7)( x 3)
9. x 2 4 x 12 ( x 2)( x 6)
10. 2
x 8 x 12 ( x 6)( x 2)
11. 3 x 2 14 x 15 (3 x 5)( x 3)
12. 4 x 2 16 x 15 (2 x 5)(2 x 3)
 Quadratic Expressions
SUMMARY
There are 3 methods of factorising quadratic
expressions.
Common factors.
The difference of 2 squares.
Trinomial factors.
List possible pairs of factors of the constant.
Constant term positive signs are the same.
Constant term negative one sign is positive
and one is negative.
Choose a pair of factors of the constant and
check the linear term is correct. If not, try
again.
 Quadratic Expressions

The following slides contain repeats of

information on earlier slides, shown without
colour, so that they can be printed and
photocopied.
For most purposes the slides can be printed
as Handouts with up to 6 slides per sheet.
 Quadratic Expressions
SUMMARY
There are 3 methods of factorising quadratics.
Common factors.
The difference of 2 squares.
Trinomial factors.
List possible pairs of factors of the constant.
Constant term positive signs are the same.
Constant term negative one sign is positive
and one is negative.
Choose a pair of factors of the constant and
check the linear term is correct. If not, try
again.
 Quadratic Expressions
Examples
1. x 2 5 x x ( x 5)
2. 3 x 6 x 3 x ( x 2)
2
2
3. 2 x 4 x 8 2( x 2 x 4)
2

4. x 4 x x ( x 4)
2

2
3
5. x 3x
2
x ( x 3)
6. 4 x 12 y 4( x 3 y )
2 2
7. 3 x 6 x 9 3( x 2 x 3)
8. 5 x (a b) 2 y (a b) (a b)(5 x 2 y )
9. 81 y 2 (9 y )(9 y )
10. 4 x 9 ( 2 x 3)(2 x 3)
2
 Quadratic Expressions
Examples
11. 3 12 x
2
3(1 4 x 2 ) 3(1 2 x )(1 2 x )
2
12. 9 x 16 y
2 (3 x 4 y )(3 x 4 y )
13. x 2
5 x 6 ( x 2)( x 3)
2
14. x 5 x 6 ( x 2)( x 3)
2
15. x 7 x 12 ( x 4)( x 3)
16. x 2
4 x 21 ( x 7)( x 3)
2
17. x 4 x 12 ( x 2)( x 6)
2
18. x 8 x 12 ( x 6)( x 2)
2
19. 3 x 14 x 15 (3 x 5)( x 3)
20. 4 x 16 x 15 (2 x 5)(2 x 3)
2