FactorizationMonicQPolynomial FormsQuadraticEquation

Factorization of Monic Quadratic Polynomials

Polynomials of degree two are called quadratic expressions. If the coefficient of the second degree term is one, then it is called a monic quadratic polynomial.

ax2 + bx + c is the general form of a quadratic expression.

x2 + ax + b is a monic quadratic expression.

Example 1

Factorize x2 + 12x + 27

Solution:

Note that a quadratic monic polynomial in x is a perfect square if the constant term in it is equal to the square of half the coefficient of x. Therefore, if (12/ 2)2 = 62 = 36 is added to x2 + 12x, it becomes a perfect square.

Therefore, the above can be written as

x2 + 12x + 27 = ( x2 + 12x + 36 ) - 36 + 27

                     = ( x + 6 )2 - 9

                     = ( x + 6 )2 - 32 (in the form of a2 - b2)

                     = ( x + 6 + 3 ) ( x + 6 - 3 )

                     = ( x + 9 ) ( x + 3 ).

Observe the following products:

( x + 3 ) ( x + 2 ) = x( x + 2 ) + 3( x + 2 )

                         = x2 + 2x + 3x + 3 *2

                         = x2 + ( 2 + 3 ) x + 3 *2

                         = x2 + 5x + 6 _____________(1)

( x - 4 ) ( x + 3 ) = x ( x + 3 ) - 4 ( x + 3 )

                         = x2 + 3x - 4x - 12

                         = x2 + ( - 4 + 3 ) x + ( - 4 + 3 )

                         = x2 - x - 12 ______________(2)

More generally,

( x + a ) ( x + b ) = x ( x + b ) + a ( x + b )

                         = x2 + bx + ax + ab

                         = x2 + ( a + b ) x + a *b __________(3)

What do you notice in the above products?

The x term in the expression (1) is

          5x = ( 2 + 3 )x = 2x + 3x

Product of the coefficient = 2, 3 = 6 the constant term.

Similarly, in the second expression, product x term is

                 = - x = - 4x + 3x

The product of the coefficients = 4 *  3 = - 12 the constant term.

Therefore, if the x term in the given quadratic monic polynomial is written as the sum of two terms so that the product of their coefficients is the constant term, it can be resolved into factors. This is another way to factorize a quadratic monic polynomial.

Example 2

x2 + 7x + 12

7x is to be written as the sum of two terms such that the product of their coefficients is 12.

          = x2 + ( 3x + 4x ) + 12

          = ( x2 + 3x ) + ( 4x + 12 )

          = x ( x + 3 ) + 4 ( x + 3 )

          = ( x + 4 ) ( x + 3 )

7x = 3x + 4x; 3 *  4 = 12

Try these questions

I.    Resolve into factors

  1. x2 + 7x + 12
  2. x2 + x - 12
  3. x2 - x - 12
  4. x2 - 7x
  5. x2 - 2x - 15
  6. x2 - 8x + 15
  7. x2 - 3x - 18
  8. x2 - 9x + 18
  9. x2 - 2x - 63
  10. x2 + 4x - 21
  11. x2 - 4x - 192
  12. x2 - 3x - 180
  13. 12 - x - x2
  14. 18 - 7x - x2
  15. 20 + x - x2
  16. 27 - 6x - x2
  17. x2 + 3xy - 10y2
  18. x2 - 5xy - 6y2
  19. x2 + 2xy - 24y2
  20. x2 + 11xy + 24y2

Answers to Practice Problems

  1. x2 + 7x + 12 = x2 + 4x + 3x + 12
                       = x ( x + 4 ) +3 ( x + 4 )
                       = ( x + 4 ) ( x + 3 )

  2. x2 + x - 12 = x2 + 4x - 3x - 12
                     = x ( x + 4 ) - 3 ( x + 4 )
                     = ( x + 4 ) ( x - 3 )

  3. x2 - x - 12 = x2 - 4x + 3x - 12
                     = x ( x - 4 ) + 3 ( x - 4 )
                     = ( x - 4 ) ( x + 3 )

  4. x2 - 7x + 12 = x2 - 4x - 3x + 12
                       = x ( x - 4 ) - 3( x - 4 )
                       = ( x - 4 ) ( x - 3 )

  5. x2 - 2x - 15 = x2 - 5x + 3x - 15
                       = x ( x - 5 ) + 3 ( x - 5 )
                       = ( x - 5 ) ( x + 3 )

  6. x2 - 8x + 15 = x2 - 5x - 3x + 15
                       = x ( x - 5 ) - 3 ( x - 5 )
                       = ( x - 5 ) ( x - 3 )

  7. x2 - 3x - 18 = x2 - 6x + 3x - 18
                       = x ( x - 6 ) + 3( x - 6 )
                       = ( x - 6 ) ( x + 3 )

  8. x2 - 9x + 18 = x2 - 6x - 3x + 18
                       = x ( x - 6 ) - 3 ( x - 6 )
                       = ( x - 6 ) ( x - 3 )

  9. x2 - 2x - 63 = x2 - 9x + 7x - 63
                       = x ( x - 9 ) - 7 ( x - 9 )
                       = ( x - 9 ) ( x - 7 )

  10. x2 + 4x - 21 = x2 + 7x - 3x - 21
                       = x ( x + 7 ) - 3 ( x + 7 )
                       = ( x + 7 ) ( x - 3 )

  11. x2 - 4x - 192 = x2 - 16x + 12x - 192
                        = x ( x - 16 ) + 12 ( x - 16 )
                        = ( x - 16 ) ( x + 12 )

  12. x2 - 3x - 180 = x2 - 15x + 12x - 180
                         = x ( x - 15 ) + 12 ( x - 15 )
                         = ( x - 15 ) ( x + 12 )

  13. 12 - x - x2 = - ( x2 + x - 12 )
                     = - [ x2+ 4x - 3x - 12]
                     = - [ ( x + 4 ) ( x - 3 ) ]
                     = ( x + 4 ) ( 3 - x )

  14. 18 - 7x - x2 = 18 - 9x + 2x - x2
                       = 9 ( 2 - x ) + x ( 2 - x )
                       = ( 2 - x ) ( 9 + x )

  15. 20 + x - x2 = 20 + 5x - 4x - x2
                     = 5 ( 4 + x ) - x ( 4 + x )
                     = ( 4 + x ) ( 5 - x )

  16. 27 - 6x - x2 = 27 - 9x + 3x - x2
                       = 9 ( 3 - x ) + x ( 3 - x )
                       = ( 3 - x ) ( 9 + x )

  17. x2 + 3xy - 10y2 = x2 + 5xy - 2xy - 10y2
                            = x ( x + 5y ) - 2y ( x + 5y )
                            = ( x + 5y ) ( x - 2y )

  18. x2 - 5xy - 6y2 = x2 - 6xy + xy - 6y2
                          = x ( x - 6y ) + y ( x - 6y )
                          = ( x - 6y ) ( x + y )

  19. x2 + 2xy - 24y2 = x2 + 6xy - 4xy - 24y2
                            = x ( x + 6y) - 4y ( x + 6y)
                            = (x + 6y) (x - 4y)

  20. x2 + 11xy + 24y2 = x2 + 8xy + 3xy + 24y2
                              = x (x + 8y ) + 3y (x + 8y )
                              = ( x + 8y ) ( x + 3y )