1. 8-4 Factoring ax2 + bx + c Warm Up Lesson Presentation Lesson Quiz
Holt Algebra 1

2. Warm Up
Find each product.
1. (x – 2)(2x + 7)
2. (3y + 4)(2y + 9)
3. (3n – 5)(n – 7)
Find each trinomial.
4. x2 +4x – 32
5. z2 + 15z + 36
6. h2 – 17h + 72
2x2 + 3x – 14
6y2 + 35y + 36
3n2 – 26n + 35
(x – 4)(x + 8)
(z + 3)(z + 12)
(h – 8)(h – 9)

3. Objective
Factor quadratic trinomials of the form ax2 + bx + c.

4. In the previous lesson you factored trinomials of the form x2 + bx + c
In the previous lesson you factored trinomials of the form x2 + bx + c. Now you will factor trinomials of the form ax2 + bx + c, where a ≠ 0.

5. When you multiply (3x + 2)(2x + 5), the coefficient of the x2-term is the product of the coefficients of the x-terms. Also, the constant term in the trinomial is the product of the constants in the binomials.
(3x + 2)(2x + 5) = 6x2 + 19x + 10

6. To factor a trinomial like ax2 + bx + c into its binomial factors, determine the signs and write two sets of parentheses ( x + )( x + ).
Write numbers that are factors of a and numbers that are factors of c. Determine which pairings multiply to give you the correct trinomial.
(3x + 2)(2x + 5) = 6x2 + 19x + 10

7. So, to factor a2 + bx + c, check the factors of a and the factors of c in the binomials. The sum of the products of the outer and inner terms should be b.
Product = a
Product = c
Sum of outer and inner products = b
( X + )( x + ) = ax2 + bx + c

8. Example 1A: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Factor 6x2 + 11x + 4.
The coefficient of the x2 term is 6. The constant term in the trinomial is 4.
(2x + 4)(3x + 1) = 6x2 + 14x + 4 
(1x + 4)(6x + 1) = 6x2 + 25x + 4 
Try factors of 6 for the coefficients and factors of 4 for the constant terms.
(1x + 2)(6x + 2) = 6x2 + 14x + 4 
(1x + 1)(6x + 4) = 6x2 + 10x + 4 
(3x + 4)(2x + 1) = 6x2 + 11x + 4 
The factors of 6x2 + 11x + 4 are (3x + 4) and (2x + 1).

9.     Example 1B Factor each trinomial. 6x2 + 11x + 3
The coefficient of the x2 term is 6. The constant term in the trinomial is 3.
(2x + 1)(3x + 3) = 6x2 + 9x + 3 
Try factors of 6 for the coefficients and factors of 3 for the constant terms.
(1x + 3)(6x + 1) = 6x2 + 19x + 3 
(1x + 1)(6x + 3) = 6x2 + 9x + 3 
(3x + 1)(2x + 3) = 6x2 + 11x + 3 
The factors of 6x2 + 11x + 3 are (3x + 1)(2x + 3).

10.     Example 1C Factor each trinomial by guess and check.
3x2 – 2x – 8
The coefficient of the x2 term is 3. The constant term in the trinomial is –8.
(1x – 1)(3x + 8) = 3x2 + 5x – 8 
Try factors of 3 for the coefficients and factors of 8 for the constant terms. 
(1x – 4)(3x + 2) = 3x2 – 10x – 8
(1x – 8)(3x + 1) = 3x2 – 23x – 8 
(1x – 2)(3x + 4) = 3x2 – 2x – 8 
The factors of 3x2 – 2x – 8 are (x – 2)(3x + 4).

11. Example 1D: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
2x2 + 17x + 21
a = 2 and c = 21, Outer + Inner = 17.
( x + )( x + )
(x + 7)(2x + 3)
Use the Foil method.
Check (x + 7)(2x + 3) = 2x2 + 3x + 14x + 21
= 2x2 + 17x + 21 

12. Example 1E: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
3x2 – 16x + 16
a = 3 and c = 16,
Outer + Inner = –16 .
( x + )( x + )
(x – 4)(3x – 4)
Use the Foil method.
Check (x – 4)(3x – 4) = 3x2 – 4x – 12x + 16
= 3x2 – 16x + 16 

13.  Example 1F Factor each trinomial. Check your answer. 6x2 + 17x + 5
a = 6 and c = 5,
Outer + Inner = 17.
( x + )( x + )
(3x + 1)(2x + 5)
Use the Foil method.
Check (3x + 1)(2x + 5) = 6x2 + 15x + 2x + 5
= 6x2 + 17x + 5 

14.  Example 1G Factor each trinomial. Check your answer. 9x2 – 15x + 4
a = 9 and c = 4,
Outer + Inner = –15.
( x + )( x + )
(3x – 4)(3x – 1)
Use the Foil method.
Check (3x – 4)(3x – 1) = 9x2 – 3x – 12x + 4
= 9x2 – 15x + 4 

15.  Example 1H Factor each trinomial. Check your answer. 3x2 + 13x + 12
a = 3 and c = 12,
Outer + Inner = 13.
( x + )( x + )
(x + 3)(3x + 4)
Use the Foil method.
Check (x + 3)(3x + 4) = 3x2 + 4x + 9x + 12
= 3x2 + 13x + 12 

16. Example 1I: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
3n2 + 11n – 4
a = 3 and c = – 4,
Outer + Inner = 11 .
( n + )( n+ )
(n + 4)(3n – 1)
Use the Foil method.
Check (n + 4)(3n – 1) = 3n2 – n + 12n – 4
= 3n2 + 11n – 4 

17. Example 1J: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
2x2 + 9x – 18
a = 2 and c = –18,
Outer + Inner = 9 .
( x + )( x+ )
(x + 6)(2x – 3)
Use the Foil method.
Check (x + 6)(2x – 3) = 2x2 – 3x + 12x – 18
= 2x2 + 9x – 18 

18. Example 1K: Factoring ax2 + bx + c
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
4x2 – 15x – 4
a = 4 and c = –4,
Outer + Inner = –15.
( x + )( x+ )
(x – 4)(4x + 1)
Use the Foil method.
Check (x – 4)(4x + 1) = 4x2 + x – 16x – 4
= 4x2 – 15x – 4 

19. Example 1L
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
6x2 + 7x – 3
a = 6 and c = –3,
Outer + Inner = 7.
( x + )( x+ )
(3x – 1)(2x + 3)
Use the Foil method.
Check (3x – 1)(2x + 3) = 6x2 + 9x – 2x – 3
= 6x + 7x – 3

20. Example 1M
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
4n2 – n – 3
a = 4 and c = –3,
Outer + Inner = –1.
( x + )( x+ )
(4n + 3)(n – 1)
Use the Foil method.
Check (4n + 3)(n – 1) = 4n2 – 4n + 3n – 3
= 4n2 – n – 3

21. When the leading coefficient is negative, factor out –1 from each term before using other factoring methods.

22. When you factor out –1 in an early step, you must carry it through the rest of the steps.
Caution

23. Example 2A: Factoring ax2 + bx + c When a is Negative
Factor –2x2 – 5x – 3.
–1(2x2 + 5x + 3)
Factor out –1.
a = 2 and c = 3;
Outer + Inner = 5
–1( x + )( x+ )
–1(x + 1)(2x + 3)

24. Example 2B
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
–6x2 – 17x – 12
Factor out –1.
–1(6x2 + 17x + 12)
a = 6 and c = 12;
Outer + Inner = 17
–1( x + )( x+ )
–1(2x + 3)(3x + 4)

25. Example 2C
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
–3x2 – 17x – 10
Factor out –1.
–1(3x2 + 17x + 10)
a = 3 and c = 10;
Outer + Inner = 17)
–1( x + )( x+ )
–1(3x + 2)(x + 5)

26. Lesson Quiz
Factor each trinomial. Check your answer.
1. 5x2 + 17x + 6
2. 2x2 + 5x – 12
3. 6x2 – 23x + 7
4. –4x2 + 11x + 20
5. –2x2 + 7x – 3
6. 8x2 + 27x + 9
(5x + 2)(x + 3)
(2x– 3)(x + 4)
(3x – 1)(2x – 7)
(–x + 4)(4x + 5)
(–2x + 1)(x – 3)
(8x + 3)(x + 3)