2.6 Factorisation of Trinomials:

 

This concept is important when we need to simplify algebraic expressions.

Do you know that 5-(3a2-2a)( 6-3a2+2a) = (3a+1)(a-1) (3a-5)(a+1) ? check the correctness by substituting a=-1 and a=1. How do we prove that this  equation holds good for all values of a?

We have seen earlier that HCF is useful in simplifying the algebraic expressions by taking this highest common factor out side of of algebraic expressions.

The HCF of 4x2y, 8x3and 12xy  is 4x

 4x2y+8x3+12xy can be written as 4x (xy+2x2+3y)

The process of writing an algebraic expression as the product of two or more expressions (called factors) is called ‘factorisation’.

 

How do we factorize trinomials of type x2+mx +c?

 

Example : Let us take the expression x2+x(a+b)+ab

 

x2+x(a+b)+ab

= (x2+xa)+(xb+ab) ( By rearranging the  terms)

= x(x+a)+b(x+a) ( x is common factor of x2 and xa and  b is common factor of xb and ab)

= (x+a)(x+b)

We say x+a and x+b are factors of  the expression  x2+x(a+b)+ab

In other terms we say x2+x(a+b)+ab can be split in to   product of  x+a and x+b.

 

Example :  x2+5x+6 can be rewritten as

=x2+3x+2x+6

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

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

Thus x+3 and x+2 are factors of x2+5x+6. They are of the form x+a and x+b.

These factors x+a and x+b of x2+5x+6 are such that a+b= 5 and ab=6. By trial and error method we find that a=3 and b=2 satisfy the condition a+b=5 and ab=6.

This is the reason why we split 5x as 3x+2x and not as x+4x or anything else in the above example.

It is to be noted that not all trinomials of type x2+mx +c always have factors.

In later sections you will learn the formula to find the factors for algebraic expression of type x2+mx +c.

x2+5x+6 is of the form x2+mx +c  with  m = 5 and c=6

 

2.6 Problem 1: Factorise x2+27x+176

 

Solution:

 

We need to find a and b such that a+b=27 and ab=176

The pairs of factors of 176 are (2, 88), (4, 44), (8, 22), (16, 11)

The –ve pairs of factors (Ex (-2, -88)) are neglected as their sum cant be a +ve number.

Of these pairs, we notice that the pair (16, 11) satisfies the desired condition with a= 16 and b=11

So x2+27x+176 can be rewritten as

x2+16x+11x+ 176

=x(x+16) +11(x+16)

=(x+16) (x+11)

 

Thus (x+16) and (x+11) are factors of x2+27x+176

 

Verification:

(x+16)(x+11) is of the form (x+a)*(x+b) with a=16 and b=11

(x+16)*(x+11) = x2+ x(16+11)+ 16*11= x2+27x+176 which is the given algebraic expression

 

2.6 Problem 2 : Factorise x2-6x-135

 

Solution:

 

We need to find a and b such that a+b= -6 and ab= -135

The pairs of factors of -135 are (3,-45), (-3, +45), (5,-27), (-5, +27), (9,-15), (-9, +15)

Of these pairs we notice that 9-15 = -6 and 9*-15 = -135 satisfy the desired condition with a= 9 and b= -15

x2-15x+9x -135

=x(x-15)+9(x-15)

=(x-15)(x+9)

Thus (x-15) and (x+9) are factors of x2-6x-135

 

Verification:

(x-15)(x+9) is of the form (x+a)*(x+b) with a=-15, b=9

(x-15)*(x+9) = x2+ x(-15+9)+ (-15*9)= x2-6x-135 which is the given algebraic expression

 

2.6 Problem 3: Factorise m2+4m-96

 

Solution:

 

We need to find a and b such that a+b= 4 and ab= -96

The pairs of factors of -96 are (2,-48), (-2, 48), (3,-32), (-3, +32), (4,-24), (-4, +24), (6,-16), (-6,16), (8,-12), (-8,12)

Of these pairs we notice that -8+12 = 4 and -8*12 = -96 satisfy the desired condition with a= -8 and b=12

m2-8m+12m -96

=m(m-8)+12(m-8)

=(m-8)(m+12)

Thus (m-8) and (m+12) are factors of m2+4m-96

 

Verification:

(m-8)(m+12) is of the form (m+a)*(m+b) with a=-8, b=12

(m-8)*(m+12) = m2+ m(-8+12)+ -8*12= m2+4m-96 which is the given algebraic expression

 

 

Let us try to factorize the expression of type px2+mx +c (note the co-efficient of x2, is p and not 1)

We need to find a and b such that a+b=m and ab=pc

 

2.6 Problem 4 : Factorize 24x2-65x+21

 

Solution:

 

We need to find a and b such that a+b= -65 and ab= 24*21 =504

The pairs of factors of 24*21   are(2,252), (-2,-252), (3, 138 ), (-3,-138), (4,126), (-4,-126),  (6,83), (-6,-83), (8,63), (-8,-63), (9,56), (-9,-56), (12,42), (-12,-42)

Of  these pairs we notice that  -9-56 = -65 and -9*(-56)  = 504=24*21 satisfies  the desired condition with a= -9 and b= -56

24x2-65x+21

=24x2-9x -56x+21 ( -65x is rewritten as -9x -56x)

=3x(8x-3) -7(8x-3) (3x is common factor of 24x2 and 9x. -7 is common factor of -56x and 21)

= (8x-3)(3x-7) ( 8x-3 is common factor )

Thus 8x-3 and 3x-7 are factors of  24x2-65x+21

Verification:

 

(8x-3)(3x-7)

=8x(3x-7)-3(3x-7) ( Multiply each  of the terms)

=24x2-56x -9x+21 (simplification)

=24x2-65x+21 which is the term given in the problem

 

 

2.6 Problem 5: Factorize 6p2+11pq -10q2

 

Solution:

 

We need to find a and b such that a+b= 11 and ab= 6*(-10) =-60

The pairs of factors of  -60   are(2,-30), (-2,30),(3, -20 ),(-3,20) (4,-15), (-4,15), (5,-12),(-5,12),(6,-10),(-6,10)

Of  these pairs we notice that  -4+15 = 11 and -4*15  = -60  which satisfies our need of finding a and b

6p2+11pq -10q2

=6p2+15pq -4pq-10q2( 11pq = 15pq-4pq)

=3p(2p+5q) -2q(2p+5q)

=(2p+5q)(3p-2q)

Thus 2p+5q and 3p-2q  are factors of  6p2+11pq -10q2

 

Verification:

(2p+5q)(3p-2q)

=2p(3p-2q)+5q(3p-2q) ( Multiply each  of the terms)

=6p2-4pq +15qp-10q2 (simplification)

= 6p2+11pq -10q2 which is the term given in the problem

 

2.6 Problem 6: Factorize 5-(3a2-2a) (6-3a2+2a)

 

Solution:

 

For easy working let x =3a2-2a

Thus we need to factorize 5-x( 6-x)

5-x( 6-x)

= 5 -6x + x2

= x2 -6x +5 = x2 -5x -x+5

= x(x-5)-1(x-5)

= (x-1)(x-5)

By substituting value for x we get

5-(3a2-2a)( 6-3a2+2a)

= (3a2-2a -1) (3a2-2a-5)

But 3a2-2a -1 = 3a2-3a+a -1 = 3a(a-1)+1(a-1) = (3a+1)(a-1)

3a2-2a-5 = 3a2+3a -5a-5 = 3a(a-1)-5(a+1) = (3a-5)(a+1)

 5-(3a2-2a)( 6-3a2+2a) = (3a+1)(a-1) (3a-5)(a+1)

 

Verification:

1.      Multiply each of the individual terms to expand to check the correctness.

2.      Check  to be sure that  the  answer is correct at  least for value of  a=2 : (5 -8*-2) = 21 = (7*1*1*3)

 

 

2.6 Summary of learning

 

 

No

Points studied

1

Finding factors of x2+mx +c  such that

a+b=m and ab=c where x+a and x+b are its factors

2

Split px2+mx +c such that  a+b =m and ab=pc