ADVANCED EXERCISES-Factoring


(1)Factor.


(a) 25x2 - (40/3)x + 16/9

(b) z3 - z2 - 13z + 4

(c) (x + 5)2 - 64

(d) 102B -(9)(10)B + 14

(e) 3x3 + 4x2 - 5x - 2
SOLUTIONS:
(a)  25x2 - (40/3)x + 16/9
     Constant term, 16/9 is a perfect square: sqrt(16/9) = 4/3
     25x2 is also a perfect square: sqrt(25x2) = 5x
     2(4/3)(5x) = (40/3)x  [refer to hint] which equals the middle term
     Therefore, it is a perfect square and can be factored into (5x - 4/3)2.
     Check: (5x + 4/3)2 = (5x - 4/3)(5x - 4/3)
                        = 25x2 + (20/3)x + (20/3)x + 16/9
                        = 25x2 - (40/3)x + 16/9

     It works!

(b)  z3 - z2 - 13z + 4
     Factors of 4 are: 1, -1, 2, -2, 4, -4  (possible k values for (z - k)
                                               as a factor)
     Possible factors are: (z + 1), (z - 1)
                           (z + 2), (z - 2)
                           (z + 4), (z - 4)
     Checking by substituting according to the rules outlined:
      (z + 1): k = -1, sub in x = -1 into ploynomial:
               (-1)3 - (-1)2 -13(-1) + 4 = 15
      (z - 1): k = 1, sub in x = 1:
               (1)3 - (1)2 -13(1) + 4 = -9
      (z + 2): k = -2, sub in x = -2:
               (-2)3 - (-2)2 -13(-2) + 4 = 18
      (z - 2): k = 2, sub in x = 2
	      (2)3 - (2)2 -13(2) + 4 = -26
      (z + 4): k = -4, sub in x = -4:
	      (-4)3 - (-4)2 -13(-4) + 4 = -24
      (z - 4): k = 4, sub in x = 4:
	      (4)3 - (4)2 -13(4) + 4 = 0

    Thus, the only one of these that is correct is (z - 4).  We must then use
    long division to find the other factor:

               z2 + 3z - 1
             -------------------
    (z - 4) | z3 - z2 - 13z + 4
              z3 - 4z2
              ---------
                   3z2 - 13z
                   3x2 - 12z
                   --------
                        -z + 4
                        -z + 4
                        -------
                           0

    Therefore, z3 - z2 - 13z + 4 = (z - 4)(z2 + 3z - 1)


(c) (x + 5)2 - 64
    This is of the form a2x2 - b2 where a = 1, x =(x + 5), b = sqrt(64) = 8 (in this case)
    Thus, this expression is a "difference of squares" and can be factored into
    (ax + b)(ax - b).

   so, (x + 5)2 - 64 = [(x + 5) + 8][(x + 5) - 8]
                         = (x + 13)(x - 3)

(d) 102B -(9)(10)B + 14
    let x = 10B, so the expression now becomes: x2 - 9x + 14
    Use method of decomposition:
    factors of 14 that add up to -9 are: -7 and -2
    = x2 - 7x - 2x - 14
    = x(x - 7) - 2(x - 7)
    = (x - 7)(x - 2)

    But since x = 10B, the original can be factored into (10B - 7)(10B - 2)

(e) 3x3 + 4x2 - 5x - 2

   The fact that x = 1 is a root almost jumps out at you since
3(13) + 4(12) - 5(1) - 2 = 0

So x - 1 is a factor. Use long division to find the other factor: 3x2 + 7x + 2 -------------------- (x - 1)| 3x3 + 4x2 - 5x - 2 3x3 - 3x2 -------- 7x2 - 5x - 2 7x2 - 7x --------- 2x - 2 2x - 2 -------- 0 Therefore the other factor is 3x2 + 7x + 2, but it can be factored further into (3x + 1)(x + 2) [use decomposition method]. Thus, the final answer is: 3x3 + 4x2 - 5x - 2 = (x - 1)(3x + 1)(x + 2)


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