Factor Polynomials by Common Factor
Questions With Detailed Solutions

How to factor a polynomial using a common factor? Grade 11 maths questions are presented along with detailed solutions. Detailed Solutions and explanations are included.

What is factorization by common factor?


It is a factorization method based on the law of distributivity which is
a(b + c) = a · b + a · c

and used in reverse as follows
a · b + a · c = a(b + c)

a is a common factor to a b and a c is therefore factored out.
Factoring a polynomial is to write it as the product of simpler polynomials.
Example:
2 x + 4 = 2(x + 2)
3 x 2 - x = x(3x - 1)
NOTE: it is very easy to check if your factorization is correct by expanding the factored form to check if you get the original polynomial
Example: check that 3 x 2 - x = x(3x - 1)
Expand x(3x - 1) using the law of distributivity.
x(3x - 1) = (x)(3x) +(x)(-1) = 3x2 - x , which is correct.

More Examples

Find a common factor and use the method of distributivity in reverse to factor the polynomials completely.
a) 9 x - 6
b) x 2 - x
c) 3 x + 12 x y
d) 16 x 3 + 8 x 2 y + 4 x y 2
e) 2 x 4(x + 5) + x 2(x + 5)

Solution to the above examples


a) Find any common factors in the two terms of 9 x - 6 by expressing both terms 9x and 6 in the given binomial as prime factorization. Hence
9 x - 6 = 3 ·3 ·x - 2 ·3
The greatest common factor is 3 and is factored out. Hence
9 x - 6 = 3 (3 x - 2)

b) The prime factorization of x 2 and x is needed to find the greatest common factor in x 2 - x.
x 2 - x = x · x - x = x · x - 1 · x
The greatest common factor is x and is therefore factored out. Hence
x 2 - x = = x (x - 1)

c) The prime factorizations of 3 x and 12 x y are needed to find the greatest common factor in 3 x + 12 x y.
3 x + 12 x y = 3 · x - 3 · 4 · x · y = 3 · x · 1 - 3 x · 4 · y
The greatest common factor is 3 x. Hence
3 x + 12 x y = 3 x (1 + 4 y)

d) The prime factorization of 16 x 3 , 8 x 2 y and 4 x y 2 are needed to find the greatest common factor in 16 x 3 + 8 x 2 y + 4 x y 2.
16 x 3 + 8 x 2 y + 4 x y 2 = 2 · 2 · 2 · 2 · x · x · x + 2 · 2 · 2 · x · x · y + 2 · 2 · x · y · y
The greatest common factor is 2 · 2 · x = 4 x. Hence
16 x 3 + 8 x 2 y + 4 x y 2 = 4 x ( 2 · 2 · x · x + 2 · x · y + y · y) = 4 x (4 x 2 + 2 x y + y 2)

e) We note that x + 5 is a common factor which can be factored out as follows:
2 x 4(x + 5) + x 2(x + 5) = (x + 5)(2 x 4 + x 2)
We now find the greatest common factor of the terms 2 x 4 and x 2 and factor it out.
2 x 4 + x 2 = 2 · x · x · x · x + x · x = x 2(2 x 2 + 1)
The complete factoring of 2 x 4(x + 5) + x 2(x + 5) is written as follows:
2 x 4(x + 5) + x 2(x + 5) = x 2(x + 5)(2 x 2 + 1)

Use common factors to factor completely the following polynomials


Detailed Solutions and explanations to these questions.
a) - 3 x + 9
b) 28 x + 2 x 2
c) 11 x y + 55 x 2 y
d) 20 x y + 35 x 2 y - 15 x y 2
e) 5 y (x + 1) + 10 y 2(x + 1) - 15 x y (x + 1)
Detailed Solutions and explanations to these questions.

More References and links

Middle School Maths (Grades 6, 7, 8, 9) - Free Questions and Problems With Answers
High School Maths (Grades 10, 11 and 12) - Free Questions and Problems With Answers
Primary Maths (Grades 4 and 5) with Free Questions and Problems With Answers
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