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Section A.3 – Polynomials and Factoring

Section Details.
  • Definition, properties, and terminology for polynomials
  • Operations with polynomials
  • Special products of polynomials
  • Factoring polynomials


Practice Problems


Directions. The following are review problems for the section. We recommend you work the problems yourself, and then click "Answer" to check your answer. If you do not understand a problem, you can click "Video" to learn how to solve it. 
  1. Factor the expression \(4x^2y^2-12xy+9\)

    Answer: \((2xy-3)^2\)

    Solution: This is an example of a binomial square.

    \(4x^2y^2=(2xy)^2 \text{, } 9=(3)^2\text{, and } 12xy=2(2xy)(3)\)

    Therefore, \(4x^2y^2-12xy+9=(2xy-3)^2\)



    To see the full video page and find related videos, click the following link.
    WIR1 20B M150 V13


  2. Factor the expression \(10y^2-3y-1\)

    Answer: \((5x+1)(2x-1)\)

    Solution: Need factors of \(10\cdot(-1)\) that add up to \(-3\).

    Those factors are \(-5\) and \(2\), so we need to place them in parentheses in such a way that the inner terms multiply to \(2x\) and the outer terms multiply to \(-5x\):
    \[ ( \quad \quad \qquad   )( \quad \quad \quad     )\]
    \(10x^2\) has factors of \(5x\) and \(2x\), which we can place in our parentheses like below.
    \[ (5x\quad \quad        )(2x\quad \quad    )\]
    The outer terms should still multiply to \(-5x\) and the inner terms to \(2x\). \(1\) obviously has factors of \(1\) and \(1\), so...
    \[ (5x  \quad   1)(2x \quad  1)\]
    Since the product of the outside two numbers needs to be \(-5x\) and the inner two numbers need to have a product of \(2x\), we get
    \[ (5x +  1)(2x  - 1)\]



    To see the full video page and find related videos, click the following link.
    WIR1 20B M150 V14


  3. Factor the expression \((x-1)(x^2+3)+(x-1)(x^2-5)\)

    Answer: \(2(x-1)^2(x+1)\)

    Solution: This type of problem is best factored using factoring by grouping.

    Since each term has a factor of \((x-1)\), we can factor \((x-1)\) out.
    \[\begin{align}
    (x-1)(x^2+3)+(x-1)(x^2-5)
    &=(x-1)[(x^2+3)+(x^2-5)]\\
    &=(x-1)[2x^2-2]\\
    &=2(x-1)(x^2-1)\\
    &=2(x-1)(x+1)(x-1)\\
    &=2(x-1)^2(x+1)
    \end{align}\]



    To see the full video page and find related videos, click the following link.
    WIR1 20B M150 V15


  4. Factor the following expression \(-6z^2+17z+3\)

    \((6z+1)(-z+3)\)



    To see the full video page and find related videos, click the following link.
    WIR8 20B M150 V02