1.0 factoring trinomials the ac method and making lists-t
1. Example. Factor 3x2 – 4x – 20 using the ac-method.
We have that a = 3, c = –20 so ac = 3(–20) = –60,
b = –4 and the ac–table is:
We need two numbers u and v such that
uv = –60 and u + v = –4.
By trial and error we see that 6 and –10 is the
solution so we may factor the trinomial by grouping.
–60
–4
–106
Factoring Trinomials and Making Lists
Using 6 and –10, writing 3x2 – 4x – 20 as
3x2 + 6x –10x – 20
= (3x2 + 6x ) + (–10x – 20) put in two groups
= 3x(x + 2) – 10 (x + 2) pull out common factor
= (3x – 10)(x + 2) pull out common factor
Hence 3x2 – 4x – 20 = (3x – 10)(x + 2)
We need to factor a formula to extract all its important basic
behavior such its signs, roots, or places where it’s undefined .
2. Example. Factor 3x2 – 6x – 20 if possible.
If it’s prime, justify that.
a = 3, c = –20, hence ac = 3(–20) = –60,
with b = –6, we have the ac–table:
We want two numbers u and v such that
uv = –60 and u + v = –6.
After failing to guess two such numbers,
we check to see if it's prime by listing in order
all positive u’s and v’s where uv = 60 as shown.
By the table, we see that there are no u and v
such that (±) u and v combine to be –6.
Hence 3x2 – 6x – 20 is prime.
Factoring Trinomials and Making Lists
–60
–6
601
302
203
154
125
106
Always make a
list in an orderly
manner to ensure
the accuracy of
the list.
If a trinomial is prime then we have to justify it’s prime.
We do this by listing all the possible u’s and v’s with uv = ac,
and showing that none of them fits the condition u + v = b.
3. Example G. Use b2 – 4ac to check if the trinomial is factorable.
b2 – 4ac
= (–7)2 – 4(3)(–2)
= 49 + 24
= 73 is not a square, hence it is prime.
Theorem: The trinomial ax2 + bx + c is factorable
if b2 – 4ac is 0, 1, 4, 9, 16, 25, ..i.e. it’s a squared number.
If b2 – 4ac is not a squared number, then it’s not factorable.
a. 3x2 – 7x + 2
b2 – 4ac
= (–7)2 – 4(3)(2)
= 49 – 24
= 25 which is a squared number, hence it is factorable.
Here is another method that’s based on a calculating a number
to check if a trinomial is factorable.
Factoring Trinomials and Making Lists
b. 3x2 – 7x – 2
a = 3, b = (–7) and c = 2
a = 3, b = (–7) and c = (–2)