Transcript Slide 1

Factoring Hard Trinomials
MATH 018
Combined Algebra
S. Rook
Overview
• Section 6.4 in the textbook:
– Factoring hard trinomials
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Factoring Hard Trinomials
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Factoring Hard Trinomials
• Has the form ax2 + bx + c (e.g. 4x2 + 7x + 3)
– The coefficient (after factoring out the GCF or
negative) in front of the squared term is a number
OTHER than 1
• Goal is to condense the trinomial into a product
of two binomials
• ALWAYS look for a GCF before factoring
• Look for two numbers whose product is ac and
sum is b
– If two such numbers CANNOT be found, the
polynomial is said to be PRIME (not factorable)
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Factoring Hard Trinomials
(Continued)
• Use the two numbers to expand the trinomial
into a four term polynomial
– Keep the first and last terms of the trinomial
– The middle term splits into two terms: the two
numbers just found with the base of the middle term
• What factoring strategy do we use with four
terms?
• Again, we can check our factoring
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Factoring Hard Trinomials
(Example)
Ex 1: Factor completely:
a) 14x2 – 3x – 2
d) 8x3 – 14x2 + 5x
b) 6y2 + 11y – 10
e) 2y2 – 30y + 50
c) 4 + 38z + 90z2
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Summary
• After studying these slides, you should
know how to do the following:
– Factor hard trinomials
• Additional Practice
– See the list of suggested problems for 6.4
• Next lesson
– Factoring Special Products (Section 6.5)
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