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This module is from Elementary Algebra by Denny Burzynski and Wade Ellis, Jr. Factoring is an essential skill for success in algebra and higher level mathematics courses. Therefore, we have taken great care in developing the student's understanding of the factorization process. The technique is consistently illustrated by displaying an empty set of parentheses and describing the thought process used to discover the terms that are to be placed inside the parentheses.The factoring scheme for special products is presented with both verbal and symbolic descriptions, since not all students can interpret symbolic descriptions alone. Two techniques, the standard "trial and error" method, and the "collect and discard" method (a method similar to the "ac" method), are presented for factoring trinomials with leading coefficients different from 1. Objectives of this module: know how to factor a polynomial using the grouping method and when to try the grouping method.

Overview

  • Using Grouping to Factor a Polynomial
  • Knowing when to Try the Grouping Method

Using grouping to factor a polynomial

Sometimes a polynomial will not have a particular factor common to every term. However, we may still be able to produce a factored form for the polynomial.

The polynomial x 3 3 x 2 6 x 18 has no single factor that is common to every term. However, we notice that if we group together the first two terms and the second two terms, we see that each resulting binomial has a particular factor common to both terms.

The polynomial 'x cubed plus three x squared minus six x minus eighteen'. The first two terms of the polynomial have x square in common, and the last two terms of the polynomial have negative six in common.

Factor x 2 out of the first two terms, and factor 6 out of the second two terms.

x 2 ( x + 3 ) 6 ( x + 3 )

Now look closely at this binomial. Each of the two terms contains the factor ( x + 3 ) .

Factor out ( x + 3 ) .
( x + 3 ) ( x 2 6 ) is the final factorization.

x 3 + 3 x 2 6 x 18 = ( x + 3 ) ( x 2 6 )

Knowing when to try the grouping method

We are alerted to the idea of grouping when the polynomial we are considering has either of these qualities:

  1. no factor common to all terms
  2. an even number of terms

When factoring by grouping, the sign ( + or ) of the factor we are taking out will usually (but not always) be the same as the sign of the first term in that group.

Sample set a

Factor 8 a 2 b 4 4 b 4 + 14 a 2 7 .

  1. We notice there is no factor common to all terms.
  2. We see there are four terms, an even number.
  3. We see that terms 1 and 2 have + 4 b 4 in common (since the 1st term in the group is + 8 a 2 b 4 ) .
  4. We notice that the 3rd and 4th terms have + 7 in common (since the 1st term in the group is + 14 a 2 ).

    The equation eight a squared b to the fourth power minus four b to the fourth power plus fourteen a squared minus seven equals the sum of the product of four b to the fourth power and two a square minus one, and the product of seven and two a square minus 1. The two terms on the right side have two a square minus one in common. 8 a 2 b 4 4 b 4 + 14 a 2 7 = (2a 2 -1)(4b 4 +7)

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Practice set a

Use the grouping method to factor the following polynomials.

a x a y b x b y

( a + b ) ( x + y )

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2 a m + 8 m + 5 a n + 20 n

( 2 m + 5 n ) ( a + 4 )

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a 2 x 3 + 4 a 2 y 3 + 3 b x 3 + 12 b y 3

( a 2 + 3 b ) ( x 3 + 4 y 3 )

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15 m x + 10 n x 6 m y 4 n y

( 5 x 2 y ) ( 3 m + 2 n )

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40 a b x 24 a b x y 35 c 2 x + 21 c 2 x y

x ( 8 a b 7 c 2 ) ( 5 3 y )

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When factoring the polynomial 8 a 2 b 4 4 b 4 14 a 2 7 in Sample Set A, we grouped together terms1 and 2 and 3 and 4. Could we have grouped together terms1 and 3 and 2 and 4? Try this.
8 a 2 b 4 4 b 4 + 14 a 2 7 =

yes

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Do we get the same result? If the results do not look precisely the same, recall the commutative property of multiplication.

Exercises

For the following problems, use the grouping method to factor the polynomials. Some polynomials may not be factorable using the grouping method.

2 a b + 3 a + 18 b + 27

( 2 b + 3 ) ( a + 9 )

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x y 7 x + 4 y 28

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x y + x + 3 y + 3

( y + 1 ) ( x + 3 )

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m p + 3 m q + n p + 3 n q

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a r + 4 a s + 5 b r + 20 b s

( a + 5 b ) ( r + 4 s )

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14 a x 6 b x + 21 a y 9 b y

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12 m x 6 b x + 21 a y 9 b y

3 ( 4 m x 2 b x + 7 a y 3 b y )  Not factorable by grouping

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36 a k 8 a h 27 b k + 6 b h

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a 2 b 2 + 2 a 2 + 3 b 2 + 6

( a 2 + 3 ) ( b 2 + 2 )

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3 n 2 + 6 n + 9 m 3 + 12 m

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8 y 4 5 y 3 + 12 z 2 10 z

Not factorable by grouping

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x 2 3 x + x y 3 y

( x + y ) ( x 3 )

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2 n 2 + 12 n 5 m n 30 m

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4 p q 7 p + 3 q 2 21

Not factorable by grouping

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8 x 2 + 16 x y 5 x 10 y

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12 s 2 27 s 8 s t + 18 t

( 4 s 9 ) ( 3 s 2 t )

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15 x 2 12 x 10 x y + 8 y

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a 4 b 4 + 3 a 5 b 5 + 2 a 2 b 2 + 6 a 3 b 3

a 2 b 2 ( a 2 b 2 + 2 ) ( 1 + 3 a b )

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4 a 3 b c 14 a 2 b c 3 + 10 a b c 2 35 b c 4

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5 x 2 y 3 z + 3 x 3 y w 10 y 3 z 2 6 w x y z

y ( 5 y 2 z + 3 x w ) ( x 2 2 z )

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a 3 b 2 c d + a b c 2 d x a 2 b x y c x 2 y

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5 m 10 n 17 p 3 m 6 n 7 p 4 40 m 4 n 10 q t 2 + 8 p q t 2

( m 6 n 7 p 3 8 q t 2 ) ( 5 m 4 n 10 p )

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Exercises for review

( [link] ) Simplify ( x 5 y 3 ) ( x 2 y ) .

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( [link] ) Use scientific notation to find the product of ( 3 × 10 5 ) ( 2 × 10 2 ) .

6 × 10 3

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( [link] ) Find the domain of the equation y = 6 x + 5 .

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( [link] ) Construct the graph of the inequality y 2 .

A horizontal line with arrows on both ends.

A number line with arrows on each end, labeled from negative three to three in increments of one. There is a closed circle at negative two. A dark arrow is originating from this circle, and heading towrads the right of negative two.

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( [link] ) Factor 8 a 4 b 4 + 12 a 3 b 5 8 a 2 b 3 .

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Questions & Answers

how did you get 1640
Noor Reply
If auger is pair are the roots of equation x2+5x-3=0
Peter Reply
Wayne and Dennis like to ride the bike path from Riverside Park to the beach. Dennis’s speed is seven miles per hour faster than Wayne’s speed, so it takes Wayne 2 hours to ride to the beach while it takes Dennis 1.5 hours for the ride. Find the speed of both bikers.
MATTHEW Reply
420
Sharon
from theory: distance [miles] = speed [mph] × time [hours] info #1 speed_Dennis × 1.5 = speed_Wayne × 2 => speed_Wayne = 0.75 × speed_Dennis (i) info #2 speed_Dennis = speed_Wayne + 7 [mph] (ii) use (i) in (ii) => [...] speed_Dennis = 28 mph speed_Wayne = 21 mph
George
Let W be Wayne's speed in miles per hour and D be Dennis's speed in miles per hour. We know that W + 7 = D and W * 2 = D * 1.5. Substituting the first equation into the second: W * 2 = (W + 7) * 1.5 W * 2 = W * 1.5 + 7 * 1.5 0.5 * W = 7 * 1.5 W = 7 * 3 or 21 W is 21 D = W + 7 D = 21 + 7 D = 28
Salma
Devon is 32 32​​ years older than his son, Milan. The sum of both their ages is 54 54​. Using the variables d d​ and m m​ to represent the ages of Devon and Milan, respectively, write a system of equations to describe this situation. Enter the equations below, separated by a comma.
Aaron Reply
find product (-6m+6) ( 3m²+4m-3)
SIMRAN Reply
-42m²+60m-18
Salma
what is the solution
bill
how did you arrive at this answer?
bill
-24m+3+3mÁ^2
Susan
i really want to learn
Amira
I only got 42 the rest i don't know how to solve it. Please i need help from anyone to help me improve my solving mathematics please
Amira
Hw did u arrive to this answer.
Aphelele
hi
Bajemah
-6m(3mA²+4m-3)+6(3mA²+4m-3) =-18m²A²-24m²+18m+18mA²+24m-18 Rearrange like items -18m²A²-24m²+42m+18A²-18
Salma
complete the table of valuesfor each given equatio then graph. 1.x+2y=3
Jovelyn Reply
x=3-2y
Salma
y=x+3/2
Salma
Hi
Enock
given that (7x-5):(2+4x)=8:7find the value of x
Nandala
3x-12y=18
Kelvin
please why isn't that the 0is in ten thousand place
Grace Reply
please why is it that the 0is in the place of ten thousand
Grace
Send the example to me here and let me see
Stephen
A meditation garden is in the shape of a right triangle, with one leg 7 feet. The length of the hypotenuse is one more than the length of one of the other legs. Find the lengths of the hypotenuse and the other leg
Marry Reply
how far
Abubakar
cool u
Enock
state in which quadrant or on which axis each of the following angles given measure. in standard position would lie 89°
Abegail Reply
hello
BenJay
hi
Method
I am eliacin, I need your help in maths
Rood
how can I help
Sir
hmm can we speak here?
Amoon
however, may I ask you some questions about Algarba?
Amoon
hi
Enock
what the last part of the problem mean?
Roger
The Jones family took a 15 mile canoe ride down the Indian River in three hours. After lunch, the return trip back up the river took five hours. Find the rate, in mph, of the canoe in still water and the rate of the current.
cameron Reply
Shakir works at a computer store. His weekly pay will be either a fixed amount, $925, or $500 plus 12% of his total sales. How much should his total sales be for his variable pay option to exceed the fixed amount of $925.
mahnoor Reply
I'm guessing, but it's somewhere around $4335.00 I think
Lewis
12% of sales will need to exceed 925 - 500, or 425 to exceed fixed amount option. What amount of sales does that equal? 425 ÷ (12÷100) = 3541.67. So the answer is sales greater than 3541.67. Check: Sales = 3542 Commission 12%=425.04 Pay = 500 + 425.04 = 925.04. 925.04 > 925.00
Munster
difference between rational and irrational numbers
Arundhati Reply
When traveling to Great Britain, Bethany exchanged $602 US dollars into £515 British pounds. How many pounds did she receive for each US dollar?
Jakoiya Reply
how to reduced echelon form
Solomon Reply
Jazmine trained for 3 hours on Saturday. She ran 8 miles and then biked 24 miles. Her biking speed is 4 mph faster than her running speed. What is her running speed?
Zack Reply
d=r×t the equation would be 8/r+24/r+4=3 worked out
Sheirtina
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Source:  OpenStax, Elementary algebra. OpenStax CNX. May 08, 2009 Download for free at http://cnx.org/content/col10614/1.3
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