Algebra Honors (Periods 5 & 6)

Factoring by Grouping 5-10


5(a -3) - 2a (3 -a)

a-3 and 3-a are OPPOSITES
so we could write 3-a as -(-3 +a) or -(a -3)
sp we have
5(a-3) -2a [-(a-3)]
which is really
5(a-3) + 2a(a-3)
wait... look... OMG they both have a-3
so
(a-3)(5 + 2a)

What about
2ab-6ac + 3b -9c

What can you combine...
some saw the following:

(2ab -6ac) + 3b -9c)
then
2a(b-3c) + 3( b-3c)
(b -3c)(2a + 3)

BUT others look at 2ab-6ac + 3b -9c and saw
2ab +3b -6ac -9c
which lead them to
(2ab + 3b) + (-6ac -9c)
b(2a +3) -3c(2a +3)
(2a +3)(b-3c)
wait that's the same!!
Hooray

What about 4p² -4q² +4qr -r²
First look carefully and you will see

4p² -4q² +4qr -r²
That's a trinomial square OMG

so isn't that
4p² - ( 2q -r)²

BUT WAIT look at

4p² - ( 2q -r)² That's the
Difference of Two Squares
Which becomes
(2p + 2q -r)(2p -2q +r)