Factoring perfect square trinomials
Before we explain the straightforward way of factoring perfect square trinomials, we need to define the expression
perfect square trinomial.
Whenever you multiply a binomial by itself twice, the resulting trinomial is called a perfect square trinomial.
For example, (x + 1) × (x + 1) = x
2 + x + x + 1 = x
2 + 2x + 1 and x
2 + 2x + 1 is a perfect
square trinomial.
Another example is (x − 5) × (x − 5)
(x − 5) × (x − 5) = x
2 + -5x + -5x + 25 = x
2 + -10x + 25 and x
2 + -10x + 25 is a perfect square trinomial.
A model to keep in mind when factoring perfect square trinomials
Now, we are ready to start factoring perfect square trinomials and
the model to remember when factoring perfect square trinomials is the following:
a
2 + 2ab + b
2 = (a + b)
2 and (a + b)
2 is the factorization form for a
2 + 2ab + b
2
Notice that all you have to do is to use the base of the first term and the last term.
In the model just described,
the first term is a
2 and the base is a and
the last term is b
2 and the base is b.
Put the bases inside parentheses with a plus between them (a + b)
Raise everything to the second power (a + b)
2 and you are done.
Notice that I put a plus between a and b.
You will put a minus if the second term is negative!
Notice that I put a plus between a and b. You will put a minus if the second term is negative!
a
2 + -2ab + b
2 = (a − b)
2
Remember that a
2 − 2ab + b
2 = a
2 + -2ab + b
2 because a minus is the
same thing as adding the negative ( − = + -)
So, a
2 − 2ab + b
2 is also equal to (a − b)
2
More examples showing how to factor trinomials
Example #1:
Factor x
2 + 2x + 1
Notice that x
2 + 2x + 1 = x
2 + 2x + 1
2
Using x
2 + 2x + 1
2, we see that
the first term is x
2 and the base is x;
the last term is 1
2 and the base is 1.
Put the bases inside parentheses with a plus between them (x + 1)
Raise everything to the second power (x + 1)
2 and you are done.
Example #2:
Factor x
2 + 24x + 144
But wait! Before we continue with more exercises, we need to establish something important when factoring perfect square trinomials.
How do we know when a trinomial is a perfect square trinomial?
This is important to check this because if it is not, we cannot use the model described above.
Think of checking this as part of the process when factoring perfect square trinomials.
We will use example #2 to show you how to check this.
Start the same way you started example #1:
Notice that x
2 + 24x + 144 = x
2 + 24x + 12
2
Using x
2 + 24x + 12
2, we see that
the first term is x
2 and the base is x;
the last term is 12
2 and the base is 12.
Now, this is how you check if x
2 + 24x + 12
2 is a perfect square
If 2 times (base of first term) times (base of last term) = second term, the trinomial is a perfect square.
If the second term is negative, check using the following instead.
-2 times (base of first term) times (base of last term) = second term.
Since the second term is 24x and 2 × x × 12 = 24x, x
2 + 24x + 12
2 is a perfect square trinomial and we factor like this.
Put the bases inside parentheses with a plus between them (x + 12)
Raise everything to the second power (x + 12)
2 and you are done.
Example #3:
Factor p
2 + -18p + 81
Notice that p
2 + -18p + 81 = p
2 + -18p + 9
2
Using p
2 + -18p + 9
2, we see that
the first term is p
2 and the base is p;
the last term is 9
2 and the base is 9.
Since the second term is -18p and -2 × p × 9 = -18p, p
2 + -18p + 9
2 is a perfect square trinomial
and we factor like this.
Put the bases inside parentheses with a minus between them (p − 9)
Raise everything to the second power (p − 9)
2 and you are done.
Example #4:
Factor 4y
2 + 48y + 144
Notice that 4y
2 + 48y + 144 = (2y)
2 + 48y + 12
2
Using (2y)
2 + 48y + 12
2, we see that
the first term is (2y)
2 and the base is 2y;
the last term is 12
2 and the base is 12.
Since the second term is 48y and 2 × 2y × 12 = 48y, (2y)
2 + 48p + 12
2 is a perfect square trinomial
and we factor like this.
Put the bases inside parentheses with a plus between them (2y + 12)
Raise everything to the second power (2y + 12)
2 and you are done.
I hope the process illustrated above when factoring perfect square trinomials was easy to follow.
Any questions? Send me an email
here.
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