Algebra (Period 1)

Factoring x² +bx + c or Factoring Trinomials 6-4

You are reversing it back to BEFORE it was FOILed.
Always check your factoring by FOILing or BOXing back!!


Factoring Trinomials with a:
PLUS sign as the second sign
x² + bx + c
Following these steps:

1. set up your hugs ( )( )
2. When the last sign is positive the BOTH signs in each of the ( )( ) are the SAME!!
3. How do you know what those two signs are? It is whatever the sign is of the 2nd term of the trinomial. Put that sign in BOTH parentheses.
4. to factor (unFOIL), you will need to find two factors that
MULTIPLY to the LAST term and
ADD to the MIDDLE term

you can set up a box with

___ X ___ =
___ + ___ =

and fill in the blanks.
I suggest you make a T-chart with all the factors of the last term-- using your divisibility rules!!
Example:
x² +8x + 15
Follow the steps
( )( )
Think: last term sign is + so both signs are the same
Think: first sign (sign of the 2nd term) is + so both signs are positive
put + into the ( )( )
( + )( + )
You already know the "F" in FOIL means that both first terms must be x --> so put those terms in
(x + )(x + )
Now to get to the L in FOIL you need two factors whose product is 15. This is easy but using a T chart
15
1 I 15
3 I 5

you see 1 X 15 or 3 X 5 are possibilities

BUT, you also need two numbers to add to the I and O of FOIL which means that the two numbers must add up to 8 ( the middle term)
Since 3 + 5 = 8, they must be the two factors that will work
3 X 5 = 15
3 + 5 = 8
(x + 5) (x +3)

At this point it does not matter which factor you put into the first ( ) because they are the SAME sign but I always tend to put the LARGER number in the first ( ) because of other rules -- which you will learn later this week)

Next example
x² - 8x + 15
Follow the steps
( ) ( )
THINK: Last sign is + so the signs are the same
THINK: First sign ( 2nd term) is NEGATIVE so BOTH signs are NEGATIVE
( - ) ( - )

Again,
You already know the "F" in FOIL means that both first terms must be x --> so put those terms in
(x - )(x - )

Now to get the "L" in FOIL, you need two factors whose product is 15
BUT, you also need two numbers to add to the I and O of FOIL which means that the two numbers must add up to -8 ( the middle term)
Since 3 + 5 = 8, they must be the two factors that will work
-3 X -5 = 15
-3 + -5 = -8
(x - 5)(x - 3)
(It doesn't matter which is first because they're the same sign!)
Now FOIL to see if we're right!

Last example:
x² - 8xy + 15y²
Same problem as the one above except now there are two variables. Simply use the same steps above and include the y

(x -5y)(x -3y)


Factoring Trinomials with a:
NEGATIVE sign as the second sign

x² + bx - c
We will use the same method as yesterday to factor these basic trinomials!
1.
Set up your (       )(       )

2. Look at the SECOND or last sign

If it's negative, then the signs in the (   ) are DIFFERENT
Why?
Because when you multiply integers and get a NEGATIVE product, the only way that will happen is if they are DIFFERENT signs.
Remember that the last term is the product of the two LAST terms in FOILing.


3. Now look at the sign of the second term.

It tells you "Who wins," meaning which sign must have the larger absolute value. 
Remember that the middle term is the SUM of the "O" and the "I" terms when FOILing.
Because these two terms have DIFFERENT signs, when you add them, you actually "subtract" and take the sign of the larger absolute value.
( This is just integer rules!!)
Put that sign in the first parentheses and always put the bigger number in the first parentheses.
4. To UNFOIL (factor), you will need to find 2 FACTORS that MULTIPLY to the last term, but SUBTRACT to the middle term.
(yesterday the factors needed to ADD to the middle)

Or you can still say you're adding, but since they are DIFFERENT signs, you will end up subtracting!

This is still an educated guess and check!

To help you do this, I suggest to set it up like this:

____ x ____ = ____
____
 - ____ = ____

Again, setting up a T-chart with all the factors also helps you visualize the two numbers you are looking for!!



EXAMPLE:

x² + 2x - 15
( ) ( )
THINK: LAST sign is - so the signs are DIFFERENT
THINK: First sign is + so the POSITIVE WINS!!
( + ) ( - )
You know the "F" in FOIL means that both the fist terms must be x so
(x + )(x - )
Now to get the "L" in FOIL, you need 2 factors whose product is NEGATIVE 15
(Don't forget the sign1!!)
Several possibilities like 1 X -15 or 15 X -1 or 3 X -5 or 5 X -3
BUT since the POSITIVE must win , according to the middle term of the example (+2x)
you know that the bigger factor must be positive ( so it can win!!)
Therefore your choices are POSITIVE 15 X NEGATIVE 1 or POSITIVE 5 X NEGATIVE 3
BUT, you also need them to ADD to the I and O in FOIL so pick the two factors that also ADD to POSITIVE 2
Since -3 + 5 = +2 these must be the two factors that will work
I set it up like this:

____ x ____ = 15

____ - ____ = 2

so
5 x 3 = 15

5 - 3 = 2

YOU CAN ALSO DO THIS WITH THE APPROPRIATE SIGNS and adding:

+____ x -____ = -15

+____ + -____ = + 2

so

5 x (-3) = -15

5 +( -3) = 2


THIS IS WHERE IT DOES MATTER WHICH NUMBER YOU DO HAVE WITH THE SIGN BECASUE THE + MUST WIN!!
( x + 5 )( x - 3 )



NEXT EXAMPLE:

x² - 2x -15

(      )(      )

THINK: Last sign is - so signs are DIFFERENT!

THINK: First sign is - so NEGATIVE MUST WIN

(    -   )(    +   )

You know the the "F" in FOIL means that both first terms must be x

( x - )( x + )

Now to get the "L" in FOIL, you need 2 factors whose product is NEGATIVE 15

Like 1 and 15, or 3 and 5

But you also need to add to the I and O in FOIL which means that the two factors
 must add to NEGATIVE 2

Since 3 + -5 = -2, this must be the two factors that will work:

( x - 5 )( x + 3)

It matters which number you have with which sign because the negatives must win!

That's why I always put the sign of the middle term in the first parentheses.

That way, I always know to put the larger number in the first parentheses, so that sign will win.

Now FOIL to see if we're right!


LAST EXAMPLE:

x² - 2xy -15y²
Same problem as the one before, except now there are 2 variables!

Simply use the same factorization and include the y

( x - 5y )( x + 3y)


ALWAYS CHECK BY FOILing or BOXing Back!!