FACTORING POLYNOMIALS (AND DEALING WITH NEGATIVES)
OBJECTIVE FOR THE DAY
Review
Example 1
Trial by error
So, let’s try 6*2
2(6) + 2 = 12 + 2 = 14 =/=11
What about 2*6?
2(2) + 6 = 10 =/=11
Not so much, let’s try 3*4
2(3) + 4 = 6 + 4 = 10 =/= 11
So what about:
2(4) + 3 = 8 + 3 = 11 = 11!
So, what we want is (2x + 3)(x + 4)
So why did we mix our answer?
And now we solve
Example 2
Now we solve
So, what about when a quadratic has a negative?
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Quadratics with a different sign
So, we’ve seen quadratics with the same signs, but what if they are different signs?
When we see this, we look at our x term.
The reason why is because there will be times that we may have a positive last term, but a negative x term.
This is because 2 negatives multiply to make a positive.
Again, easier to show, so here’s another example:
Example 4:
Example 5
Example 6
Last Example:
SO THAT’S PRETTY MUCH IT
That’s pretty much all there is to it to factoring quadratics.
Now the next step is when we can’t factor, but that’s for another time.
As a side note, this is why knowing your divisibility rules is so important.
So, now of course everyone needs to practice.
Now try some on your own!
RECAP