6.5E: Exercises
Practice Makes Perfect
Recognize and Use the Appropriate Method to Factor a Polynomial Completely
In the following exercises, factor completely.
1. \(2n^2+13n−7\)
- Answer
-
\((2n−1)(n+7)\)
2. \(8x^2−9x−3\)
3. \(a^5+9a^3\)
- Answer
-
\(a^3(a^2+9)\)
4. \(75m^3+12m\)
5. \(121r^2−s^2\)
- Answer
-
\((11r−s)(11r+s)\)
6. \(49b^2−36a^2\)
7. \(8m^2−32\)
- Answer
-
\(8(m−2)(m+2)\)
8. \(36q^2−100\)
9. \(25w^2−60w+36\)
- Answer
-
\((5w−6)^2\)
10. \(49b^2−112b+64\)
11. \(m^2+14mn+49n^2\)
- Answer
-
\((m+7n)^2\)
12. \(64x^2+16xy+y^2\)
13. \(7b^2+7b−42\)
- Answer
-
\(7(b+3)(b−2)\)
14. \(30n^2+30n+72\)
15. \(3x^4y−81xy\)
- Answer
-
\(3xy(x−3)(x^2+3x+9)\)
16. \(4x^5y−32x^2y\)
17. \(k^4−16\)
- Answer
-
\((k−2)(k+2)(k^2+4)\)
18. \(m^4−81\)
19. \(5x5y^2−80xy^2\)
- Answer
-
\(5xy^2(x^2+4)(x+2)(x−2)\)
20. \(48x^5y^2−243xy^2\)
21. \(15pq−15p+12q−12\)
- Answer
-
\(3(5p+4)(q−1)\)
22. \(12ab−6a+10b−5\)
23. \(4x^2+40x+84\)
- Answer
-
\(4(x+3)(x+7)\)
24. \(5q^2−15q−90\)
25. \(4u^5v+4u^2v^3\)
- Answer
-
\(u^2(u+1)(u^2−u+1)\)
26. \(5m^4n+320mn^4\)
27. \(4c^2+20cd+81d^2\)
- Answer
-
prime
28. \(25x^2+35xy+49y^2\)
29. \(10m^4−6250\)
- Answer
-
\(10(m−5)(m+5)(m^2+25)\)
30. \(3v^4−768\)
31. \(36x^2y+15xy−6y\)
- Answer
-
\(3y(3x+2)(4x−1)\)
32. \(60x^2y−75xy+30y\)
33. \(8x^3−27y^3\)
- Answer
-
\((2x−3y)(4x^2+6xy+9y^2)\)
34. \(64x^3+125y^3\)
35. \(y^6−1\)
- Answer
-
\((y+1)(y−1)(y^2−y+1)\)
36. \(y^6+1\)
37. \(9x^2−6xy+y^2−49\)
- Answer
-
\((3x−y+7)(3x−y−7)\)
38. \(16x^2−24xy+9y^2−64\)
39. \((3x+1)^2−6(3x−1)+9\)
- Answer
-
\((3x−2)2\)
40. \((4x−5)^2−7(4x−5)+12\)
Writing Exercises
41. Explain what it mean to factor a polynomial completely.
- Answer
-
Answers will vary.
42. The difference of squares \(y^4−625\) can be factored as \((y^2−25)(y^2+25)\). But it is not completely factored. What more must be done to completely factor.
43. Of all the factoring methods covered in this chapter (GCF, grouping, undo FOIL, ‘ac’ method, special products) which is the easiest for you? Which is the hardest? Explain your answers.
- Answer
-
Answers will vary.
44. Create three factoring problems that would be good test questions to measure your knowledge of factoring. Show the solutions.
Self Check
a. After completing the exercises, use this checklist to evaluate your mastery of the objectives of this section.
b. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your mastery of this section in light of your responses on the checklist? How can you improve this?