Factoring: Special Cases

Learning Objectives

• Factor trinomials that are perfect squares.
• Factor binomials in the form of the difference of squares.

One of the keys to factoring is finding patterns between the trinomial A polynomial with exactly three terms, such as `5y^2 - 4y + 4` and `x^2 + 2xy +y^2`. and the factors of the trinomial. Learning to recognize a few common polynomial types will lessen the amount of time it takes to factor them. Knowing the characteristic patterns of special products, trinomials that come from squaring binomialsA polynomial with exactly two terms, such as `5y^2 - 4x` and `x^5 + 6`. , for example, provides a shortcut to finding their factors.

Perfect squaresA square of a whole number. Since `1^2 = 1`, `2^2 = 4`, `3^2 = 9`, etc., `1`, `4`, and `9` are perfect squares. are numbers that are the result of a whole number multiplied by itself or squared. For example `1,4,9,16,25,36,49,64,81`, and `100` are all perfect squares; they come from squaring each of the numbers from `1` to `10`. Notice that these perfect squares can also come from squaring the negative numbers from `-1` to `-10`, as `(-1)(-1) = 1`, `(-2)(-2) = 4`, `(-3)(-3) = 9`, and so on.

A perfect square trinomial A trinomial that is the product of a binomial times itself, such as `a^2 + 2ab + b^2` (from `(a + b)^2`), and `a^2 - 2ab + b^2` (from `(a - b)^2)`. is a trinomial that is the result of a binomial multiplied by itself or squared. For example, `(x + 3)^2 = (x + 3)(x + 3) = x^2 + 6x + 9`. The trinomial `x^2 + 6x + 9` is a perfect square trinomial. Let’s factor this trinomial using the methods you have already seen.

Notice that in the trinomial `x^2 + 6x + 9`, the `a` and `c` terms are each a perfect square, as `x^2 = x * x`, and `9 = 3 * 3`. Also the middle term is twice the product of the `x` and `3` terms, `2(3)x = 6x`.

Let’s consider a slightly different example next. The above example shows how `(x + 3)^2 = x^2 + 6x + 9`. What do you suppose `(x - 3)^2` equals? Using what you know about multiplying binomials, you see the following.

Notice that `(x + 3)^2 = x^2 + 6x + 9` and `(x - 3)^2 = x^2 - 6x + 9`! Here, `9` can be written as `(-3)^2`, so the middle term is `2(-3)x = -6x`. So when the sign of the middle term is negative, the trinomial may be factored as `(a - b)^2`.

Let’s try one more example: `9x^2 - 24x + 16`. Notice that `9x^2` is a perfect square, as `(3x)^2 = 9x^2` and that `16` is a perfect square, as `4^2 = 16`. However, the middle term, `-24x` is negative, so try `16 = (-4)^2`. In this case, the middle term is `2(3x)(-4) = -24x`. So the trinomial `9x^2 - 24x + 16` is a perfect square and factors as `(3x - 4)^2`.

You can also continue to factor using grouping as shown below.

Notice that if you had factored out `4` rather than `-4`, the `3x - 4` factor would have been `-3x + 4`, which is the opposite of `3x - 4`. By factoring out the `-4`, the factors from the grouping come out the same, both as `3x - 4`. We need that to happen if we are going to pull a common grouping factor out for our next step.

The pattern for factoring perfect square trinomials lead to this general rule.

Let’s factor a trinomial using the rule above. Once you have determined that the trinomial is indeed a perfect square, the rest is easy. Notice that the `c` term is always positive in a perfect trinomial square.

You can, and should, always multiply to check the answer. `(x - 7)^2 = (x - 7)(x - 7) = x^2 - 7x - 7x + 49 = x^2 - 14x + 49`.

The difference of two squares, `a^2 - b^2`, is also a special product that factors into the product of two binomials.

Let’s factor `9x^2 - 4` by writing it as a trinomial, `9x^2 + 0x - 4`. Now you can factor this trinomial just as you have been doing.

`9x^2 + 0x - 4` fits the standard form of a trinomial, `ax^2 + bx + c`. Let’s factor this trinomial the same way you would any other trinomial. Find the factors of `ac` `(9 * -4 = -36)` whose sum is `b`, in this case, `0`.

There are more factors, but you have found the pair that has a sum of `0`, `6` and `-6`. You can use these to factor `9x^2 - 4`.

Since multiplication is commutative, the answer can also be written as `(3x + 2)(3x - 2)`.

You can check the answer by multiplying `(3x - 2)(3x + 2) = 9x^2 + 6x - 6x - 4 = 9x^2 - 4`.

Let’s factor the difference of two squares using the above rule. Once you have determined that you have the difference of two squares, you just follow the pattern.

Check the answer by multiplying: `(2x + 6)(2x - 6) = 4x^2 - 12x + 12x - 36 = 4x^2 - 36`.

Notice that you cannot factor the sum of two squares, `a^2 + b^2`. You might be tempted to factor this as `(a + b)^2`, but check it by multiplying: `(a + b)^2 = (a + b)(a + b)=a^2+ab+ab+b^2=a^2+2ab+b^2`, NOT `a^2+b^2`.

Learning to identify certain patterns in polynomials helps you factor some “special cases” of polynomials quickly. The special cases are:

• trinomials that are perfect squares, `a^2 + 2ab + b^2` and `a^2 - 2ab + b^2`, which factor as `(a+b)^2` and `(a - b)^2`, respectively;
• binomials that are the difference of two squares, `a^2 - b^2`, which factors as `(a + b)(a - b)`.

For some polynomials, you may need to combine techniques (looking for common factors, grouping, and using special products) to factor the polynomial completely.