Factoring by grouping

Just like it says, factoring by grouping means that you will group terms with common factors before factoring.
Factoring by grouping

As you can see, this is done by grouping a pair of terms. Then, factor each pair of two terms. If you did not understand the example above, keep reading as we explain the concept with more examples.

More examples enplaning factoring by grouping

Factor x2 + 5x + 6

The expression x2 + 5x + 6 has three terms right now, so we need to write it with 4 terms before we can group terms.

5x = 3x + 2x, so x2 + 5x + 6 becomes x2 + 3x + 2x + 6.

Group x2 with 3x and 2x with 6 and then factor each group.

We get (x2 + 3x) + (2x + 6) = x*(x + 3) + 2*(x + 3) = (x + 3) * (x + 2)

In this example, if you group x2 with 2x and 3x with 6, you will get the same answer. Try doing that.

Notice that there is more than one way we can expand 5x, so different groupings are possible. 5x is also equal to 4x + x, 6x -x, 7x-2x, 8x-3x, and so forth...

However, not all groupings will work!

This brings light to the fact that this way of factoring by grouping can be very tedious sometimes.

Although it is always good to know, it is not always a straightforward method to factor trinomials.

Example #2:

x2 + -4x + -12

At first, you may be tempted to say that -4x can be equal to: -2x + -2x, or -3x + -x, so one of them will work.

Wrong! The right combination is -6x + 2x

So, x2 + -4x + -12 = x2 + -6x + 2x + -12

Group x2 with -6x and 2x with -12

(x2 + -6x) + (2x + -12) = x *(x − 6) + 2 * (x − 6) = (x − 6)*(x + 2)

Example #3:

3y2 + 14y + 8

3y2 + 14y + 8 = 3y2 + 12y + 2y + 8 = (3y2 + 12y) + (2y + 8) = 3y(y + 4) + 2(y + 4)

So, 3y2 + 14y + 8 = (y + 4)(3y + 2)

Example #4:

11x2 + -41x + -12

This problem is very complicated because you have too many choices for things you can add to get -41x.

Some possibilities are:

.....

.....

-46x + 5x

-45x + 4x

-44x + 3x

-40x + -1x

-39x + -2x

-38x + -3x

-36x + -4x

.....

.....

It turns out that the right combination is - 44x + 3x

There is good news though since there is a technique to use to find the right combination a little bit faster when factoring by grouping.

Do 11 * -12 = -132

Then, find factors of -132 that will add up to -41

The factors are -44 and 3

11x2 + -41x + -12 = 11x2 + -44x + 3x + -12

11x2 + -44x + 3x + -12 = 11x(x − 4) + 3(x − 4) = (x − 4)(11x + 3)

Example #5:

6x2- 26x + 28

6 * 28 = 168

-14 + -12 = -26 and -14 * -12 = 168, so the right combination is

6x2- 26x + 28 = 6x2 + -14x + -12x + 28

6x2 + -14x + -12x + 28 = (6x2 + -14x) + (-12x + 28)= 2x(3x + -7) + -4(3x + -7)

6x2- 26x + 28 = (3x + -7) * (2x + -4)

Conclusion:

Use factoring by grouping only if you have no other choices!

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