

Learning Objectives

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

• Factor trinomials of the form $$x^{2}+b x+c$$
• Factor trinomials of the form $$x^{2}+b x y+c y^{2}$$

BE PREPARED

Before you get started, take this readiness quiz.

1. Multiply: (x+4)(x+5).
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 6.3.31.
2. Simplify: ⓐ −9+(−6) ⓑ −9+6.
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 1.4.18.
3. Simplify: ⓐ −9(6) ⓑ −9(−6).
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 1.5.1.
4. Simplify: ⓐ |−5| ⓑ |3|.
If you missed this problem, review Exercise 1.4.2.

## Factor Trinomials of the Form $$x^{2}+b x+c$$

You have already learned how to multiply binomials using FOIL. Now you’ll need to “undo” this multiplication—to start with the product and end up with the factors. Let’s look at an example of multiplying binomials to refresh your memory.

To factor the trinomial means to start with the product, $$x^{2}+5 x+6$$, and end with the factors, $$(x+2)(x+3)$$. You need to think about where each of the terms in the trinomial came from.

The first term came from multiplying the first term in each binomial. So to get $$x^{2}$$ in the product, each binomial must start with an x.

$\begin{array}{l}{x^{2}+5 x+6} \\ {(x\quad)(x\quad)}\end{array}$

The last term in the trinomial came from multiplying the last term in each binomial. So the last terms must multiply to 6.

What two numbers multiply to 6?

The factors of 6 could be 1 and 6, or 2 and 3. How do you know which pair to use?

Consider the middle term. It came from adding the outer and inner terms.

So the numbers that must have a product of 6 will need a sum of 5. We’ll test both possibilities and summarize the results in Table $$\PageIndex{1}$$—the table will be very helpful when you work with numbers that can be factored in many different ways.

Factors of 6 Sum of factors
1,6 $$1+6=7$$
2,3 $$2+3=5$$

Table $$\PageIndex{1}$$

We see that 2 and 3 are the numbers that multiply to 6 and add to 5. So we have the factors of $$x^{2}+5 x+6$$. They are $$(x+2)(x+3)$$.

$\begin{array}{ll}{x^{2}+5 x+6} & {\text { product }} \\ {(x+2)(x+3)} & {\text { factors }}\end{array}$

You should check this by multiplying.

Looking back, we started with $$x^{2}+5 x+6$$, which is of the form $$x^{2}+b x+c$$, where b=5 and c=6. We factored it into two binomials of the form (x+m) and (x+n).

$\begin{array}{ll}{x^{2}+5 x+6} & {x^{2}+b x+c} \\ {(x+2)(x+3)} & {(x+m)(x+n)}\end{array}$

To get the correct factors, we found two numbers m and n whose product is c and sum is b.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{1}$$: HOW TO FACTOR TRINOMIALS OF THE FORM $$x^{2}+b x+c$$

Factor: $$x^{2}+7 x+12$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{2}$$

Factor: $$x^{2}+6 x+8$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{3}$$

Factor: $$y^{2}+8 y+15$$

Let’s summarize the steps we used to find the factors.

HOW TO

Factor trinomials of the form $$x^{2}+b x+c$$.

Step 1. Write the factors as two binomials with first terms x: $$(x \quad)(x \quad )$$

Step 2. Find two numbers m and n that
Multiply to c, $$m \cdot n=c$$
Add to b, $$m+n=b$$

Step 3. Use m and n as the last terms of the factors:$$(x+m)(x+n)$$

Step 4. Check by multiplying the factors.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{4}$$

Factor: $$u^{2}+11 u+24$$

Notice that the variable is u, so the factors will have first terms u.

$$\begin{array}{ll} & u^{2}+11 u+24\\ {\text { Write the factors as two binomials with first terms } u \text { . }} & (u \quad)(u\quad) \\ {\text { Find two numbers that: multiply to } 24 \text { and add to } 11 .} & \end{array}$$

Factors of 24 Sum of factors
1,24 1+24=25
2,12 2+12=14
3,8 3+8=11*
4,6 4+6=10

$$\begin{array}{ll}\text { Use } 3 \text { and } 8 \text { as the last terms of the binomials. } & (u+3)(u+8)\\ \\ \text { Check. } \\ \\ \begin{array}{l}{(u+3)(u+8)} \\ {u^{2}+3 u+8 u+24} \\ {u^{2}+11 u+24 v} \checkmark\end{array}\end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{5}$$

Factor: $$q^{2}+10 q+24$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{6}$$

Factor: $$t^{2}+14 t+24$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{7}$$

Factor: $$y^{2}+17 y+60$$

$$\begin{array}{ll} & y^{2}+17 y+60\\ \text { Write the factors as two binomials with first terms y. } & (y \quad)(y\quad)\end{array}$$

Find two numbers that multiply to 60 and add to 17.

Factors of 60 Sum of factors
1,60 1+60=61
2,30 2+30=32
3,20 3+20=23
4,15 4+15=19
5,12 5+12=17*
6,10
$$\begin{array} {ll} \text { Use } 5 \text { and } 12 \text { as the last terms. } & (y+5)(y+12) \\ \text{ Check.} & \\ \\ \begin{array}{l}{(y+5)(y+12)} \\ {\left(y^{2}+12 y+5 y+60\right)} \\ {\left(y^{2}+17 y+60\right) }\checkmark \end{array} \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{8}$$

Factor: $$x^{2}+19 x+60$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{9}$$

Factor: $$v^{2}+23 v+60$$

### Factor Trinomials of the Form x2 + bx + c with b Negative, c Positive

In the examples so far, all terms in the trinomial were positive. What happens when there are negative terms? Well, it depends which term is negative. Let’s look first at trinomials with only the middle term negative.

Remember: To get a negative sum and a positive product, the numbers must both be negative.

Again, think about FOIL and where each term in the trinomial came from. Just as before,

• the first term, $$x^2$$, comes from the product of the two first terms in each binomial factor, x and y;
• the positive last term is the product of the two last terms
• the negative middle term is the sum of the outer and inner terms.

How do you get a positive product and a negative sum? With two negative numbers.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{10}$$

Factor: $$t^{2}-11 t+28$$

Again, with the positive last term, 28, and the negative middle term, −11t, we need two negative factors. Find two numbers that multiply 28 and add to −11.

$$\begin{array} {ll} & t^{2}-11 t+28 \\ \text {Write the factors as two binomials with first terms } t & (t\qquad)(t\qquad)\end{array}$$

Find two numbers that: multiply to 28 and add to −11.

Factors of 28 Sum of factors
−1,−28 −1+(−28)=−29
−2,−14 −2+(−14)=−16
−4,−7 $$-4+(-7)=-11^{*}$$
$$\begin{array} {ll} \text { Use }-4,-7 \text { as the last terms of the binomials. }& (t-4)(t-7) \\ \text { Check. } \\\\ \begin{array}{l}{(t-4)(t-7)} \\ {t^{2}-7 t-4 t+28} \\ {t^{2}-11 t+28}\checkmark\end{array}\end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{11}$$

Factor: $$u^{2}-9 u+18$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{12}$$

Factor: $$y^{2}-16 y+63$$

### Factor Trinomials of the Form x2+bx+c with c Negative

Now, what if the last term in the trinomial is negative? Think about FOIL. The last term is the product of the last terms in the two binomials. A negative product results from multiplying two numbers with opposite signs. You have to be very careful to choose factors to make sure you get the correct sign for the middle term, too.

Remember: To get a negative product, the numbers must have different signs.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{13}$$

Factor: $$z^{2}+4 z-5$$

To get a negative last term, multiply one positive and one negative. We need factors of −5 that add to positive 4.

Factors of −5 Sum of factors
1,−5 1+(−5)=−4
−1,5 −1+5=4*

Notice: We listed both 1,−5 and −1,5 to make sure we got the sign of the middle term correct.

$$\begin{array} {ll} &z^{2}+4 z-5 \\ \text { Factors will be two binomials with first terms z. }& (z\qquad)(z\qquad)\\ \text { Use }-1,5 \text { as the last terms of the binomials. } & (z-1)(z+5)\\ \text { Check. } & \\ \\ \begin{array}{l}{(z-1)(z+5)} \\ {z^{2}+5 z-1 z-5} \\ {z^{2}+4 z-5 }\checkmark\end{array} \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{14}$$

Factor: $$h^{2}+4 h-12$$

$$(h-2)(h+6)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{15}$$

Factor: $$: 2^{2}+k-20$$

$$(k-4)(k+5)$$

Let’s make a minor change to the last trinomial and see what effect it has on the factors.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{16}$$

Factor: $$z^{2}-4 z-5$$

This time, we need factors of −5 that add to −4.

Factors of −5 Sum of factors
1,−5 1+(−5)=−4*
−1,5 −1+5=4

$$\begin{array} {ll} &z^{2}-4 z-5 \\ \text { Factors will be two binomials with first terms z. }& (z\qquad)(z\qquad)\\ \text { Use }1,-5 \text { as the last terms of the binomials. } & (z+1)(z-5)\\ \text { Check. } & \\ \\ \begin{array}{l}{(z+1)(z-5)} \\z^{2}-5 z+1 z-5 \\ z^{2}-4 z-5\checkmark\end{array} \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{17}$$

Factor: $$x^{2}-4 x-12$$

$$(x+2)(x-6)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{18}$$

Factor: $$y^{2}-y-20$$

$$(y+4)(y-5)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{19}$$

Factor: $$q^{2}-2 q-15$$

$$\begin{array} {ll} &q^{2}-2 q-15\\ \text { Factors will be two binomials with first terms q. }& (q\qquad)(q\qquad)\\ \text { You can use }3,-5 \text { as the last terms of the binomials. } & (q+3)(q-5)\\ \end{array}$$

Factors of −15 Sum of factors
1,−15 1+(−15)=−14
−1,15 −1+15=14
3,−5 3+(−5)=−2*
−3,5

$$\begin{array}{ll}\text { Check. } & \\ \\ \begin{array}{l}{(q+3)(q-5)} \\q^{2}-5 q+3 z-15 \\ q^{2}-2q-15\checkmark\end{array} \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{20}$$

Factor: $$r^{2}-3 r-40$$

$$(r+5)(r-8)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{21}$$

Factor: $$s^{2}-3 s-10$$

$$(s+2)(s-5)$$

Some trinomials are prime. The only way to be certain a trinomial is prime is to list all the possibilities and show that none of them work.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{22}$$

Factor: $$y^{2}-6 y+15$$

$$\begin{array}{ll}&y^{2}-6 y+15 \\ \text { Factors will be two binomials with first } & (y \qquad)(y\qquad) \\\text { terms y. } \end{array}$$

Factors of 15 Sum of factors
−1,−15 −1+(−15)=−16
−3,−5 −3+(−5)=−8

As shown in the table, none of the factors add to −6; therefore, the expression is prime.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{23}$$

Factor: $$m^{2}+4 m+18$$

prime

Exercise $$\PageIndex{24}$$

Factor: $$n^{2}-10 n+12$$

prime

Exercise $$\PageIndex{25}$$

Factor: $$2 x+x^{2}-48$$

$$\begin{array}{ll}&2 x+x^{2}-48 \\ \text { First we put the terms in decreasing degree order. } & x^{2}+2 x-48 \\ \text { Factors will be two binomials with first terms } x \text { . }& (x \qquad)(x\qquad) \end{array}$$

As shown in the table, you can use −6,8 as the last terms of the binomials.

$(x-6)(x+8)$

Factors of −48 Sum of factors
−1,48 −1+48=47
−2,24
−3,16
−4,12
−6,8
−2+24=22
−3+16=13
−4+12=8
−6+8=2

$$\begin{array}{l}{\text { Check. }} \\ {(x-6)(x+8)} \\ {x^{2}-6 q+8 q-48} \\ {x^{2}+2 x-48}\checkmark \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{26}$$

Factor: $$9 m+m^{2}+18$$

$$(m+3)(m+6)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{27}$$

Factor: $$-7 n+12+n^{2}$$

$$(n-3)(n-4)$$

Let’s summarize the method we just developed to factor trinomials of the form $$x^{2}+b x+c$$

Note

When we factor a trinomial, we look at the signs of its terms first to determine the signs of the binomial factors.

$\begin{array}{c}{x^{2}+b x+c} \\ {(x+m)(x+n)}\end{array}$

When c is positive, m and n have the same sign.

$\begin{array}{cc}{\text { b positive }} & {\text { b negative }} \\ {m, n \text { positive }} & {m, n \text { negative }} \\ {x^{2}+5 x+6} & {x^{2}-6 x+8} \\ {(x+2)(x+3)} & {(x-4)(x-2)} \\ {\text { same signs }} & {\text { same signs }}\end{array}$

When c is negative, m and n have opposite signs.

$\begin{array}{cc}{x^{2}+x-12} & {x^{2}-2 x-15} \\ {(x+4)(x-3)} & {(x-5)(x+3)} \\ {\text { opposite signs }} & {\text { opposite signs }}\end{array}$

Notice that, in the case when m and n have opposite signs, the sign of the one with the larger absolute value matches the sign of b.

## Factor Trinomials of the Form x2 + bxy + cy2

Sometimes you’ll need to factor trinomials of the form $$x^{2}+b x y+c y^{2}$$ with two variables, such as $$x^{2}+12 x y+36 y^{2}$$. The first term, $$x^2$$, is the product of the first terms of the binomial factors, $$x \cdot x$$. The $$y^2$$ in the last term means that the second terms of the binomial factors must each contain y. To get the coefficients b and c, you use the same process summarized in the previous objective.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{28}$$

Factor: $$x^{2}+12 x y+36 y^{2}$$

$$\begin{array}{ll }&x^{2}+12 x y+36 y^{2} \\ \text { Note that the first terms are } x, \text { last terms } &\left(x_{-} y\right)\left(x_{-} y\right) \\ \text { contain } y\end{array}$$

Find the numbers that multiply to 36 and add to 12.

Factors of 36 Sum of factors
1, 36 1+36=37
2, 18 2+18=20
3, 12 3+12=15
4, 9 4+9=13
6, 6 6+6=12*

$$\begin{array}{ll}{\text { Use } 6 \text { and } 6 \text { as the coefficients of the last terms. }} & (x+6 y)(x+6 y)\\ {\text { Check your answer. }}\end{array}$$

$$\begin{array}{l}{(x+6 y)(x+6 y)} \\ {x^{2}+6 x y+6 x y+36 y^{2}} \\ {x^{2}+12 x y+36 y^{2}}\checkmark \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{29}$$

Factor: $$u^{2}+11 u v+28 v^{2}$$

$$(u+4 v)(u+7 v)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{30}$$

Factor: $$x^{2}+13 x y+42 y^{2}$$

$$(x+6 y)(x+7 y)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{31}$$

Factor: $$r^{2}-8 r s-9 s^{2}$$

We need $$r$$ in the first term of each binomial and $$s$$ in the second term. The last term of the trinomial is negative, so the factors must have opposite signs.

$$\begin{array}{ll }& r^{2}-8 r s-9 s^{2} \\ \text { Note that the first terms are } r, \text { last terms contain } s &\left(r_{-} s\right)\left(r_{-} s\right) \end{array}$$

Factors of −9 Sum of factors
1,−9 1+(−9)=−8*
−1,9 −1+9=8
3,−3 3+(−3)=0

$$\begin{array}{ll}\text { Use } 1,-9 \text { as coefficients of the last terms. }&(r+s)(r-9 s)\\ {\text { Check your answer. }}\end{array}$$

$$\begin{array}{l}{(r-9 s)(r+s)} \\ {r^{2}+r s-9 r s-9 s^{2}} \\ {r^{2}-8 r s-9 s^{2}} \checkmark \end{array}$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{32}$$

Factor: $$a^{2}-11 a b+10 b^{2}$$

$$(a-b)(a-10 b)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{33}$$

Factor: $$m^{2}-13 m n+12 n^{2}$$

$$(m-n)(m-12 n)$$

Exercise $$\PageIndex{34}$$

Factor: $$u^{2}-9 u v-12 v^{2}$$

We need u in the first term of each binomial and v in the second term. The last term of the trinomial is negative, so the factors must have opposite signs.

$$\begin{array}{ll }& u^{2}-9 u v-12 v^{2} \\ \text { Note that the first terms are } u, \text { last terms contain } v &\left(u_{-} v\right)\left(u_{-} v\right) \end{array}$$

Find the numbers that multiply to −12 and add to −9.

Factors of −12 Sum of factors
1,−12 1+(−12)=−11
−1,12 −1+12=11
2,−6 2+(−6)=−4
−2,6 −2+6=4
3,−4 3+(−4)=−1
−3,4 −3+4=1

Note there are no factor pairs that give us −9 as a sum. The trinomial is prime.

Exercise $$\PageIndex{35}$$

Factor: $$x^{2}-7 x y-10 y^{2}$$

prime

Exercise $$\PageIndex{36}$$

Factor: $$p^{2}+15 p q+20 q^{2}$$

• Factor trinomials of the form $$x^{2}+b x+c$$
1. Write the factors as two binomials with first terms $$x$$: $$(x\qquad)(x\qquad)$$
2. Find two numbers $$m$$ and $$n$$ that
Multiply to $$c$$, $$m \cdot n=c$$
Add to $$b$$, $$m+n=b$$
3. Use $$m$$ and $$n$$ as the last terms of the factors: $$(x+m)(x+n)$$.