Hi Everyone!

On this page you will find some material about Lesson 4. Read through the material below, watch the videos, and follow up with your instructor if you have questions.

Lesson 4: GCF Factoring and

Factoring by Grouping

Resources

In this section you will find some important information about the specific resources related to this lesson:

  • the learning outcomes,
  • the section in the textbook,
  • the WeBWorK homework sets,
  • a link to the pdf of the lesson notes,
  • a link to a video lesson.

Learning Outcomes.

  • Know what a GCF is.
  • Be able to  factor out a GCF.
  • Be able to factor by grouping
  • Know the limits of factoring by grouping
  • Communicate effectively using written and oral means.

Topic. This lesson covers

Section 4.5: Greatest Common Factor and Factoring by Grouping.

WeBWorK. There is one WeBWorK assignment on today’s material:

GCF-Grouping

Lesson Notes.

Video Lesson.

Video Lesson 4 (based on Lesson 4 Notes)

 

Warmup Questions

These are questions on fundamental concepts that you need to know before you can embark on this lesson. Don’t skip them! Take your time to do them, and check your answer by clicking on the β€œShow Answer” tab.

In the product 2β‹…5=10, the numbers 2 and 5 are factors of 10. We also have 1β‹…10=10, so 1 and 10 are also factors of 10. Can you find all positive factors of 20?

(a) Find all factors of 30.

(b) Find all factors of 50.

(c) Find all common factors of 30 and 50.

(d) Find the GCF (greatest common factor) of 30 and 50.

Distribute

3x2y4(5x7βˆ’2xy2+4).

Quick Intro

This is like a mini-lesson with an overview of the main objects of study. It will often contain a list of key words, definitions and properties – all that is new in this lesson. We will use this opportunity to make connections with other concepts. It can be also used as a review of the lesson.

A Quick Intro to the GCF Factoring and Factoring by Grouping

Key Words. Terms, factor, GCF (greatest common factor), factor by grouping

β˜… The terms of the polynomial 2x3βˆ’4x2+6x are 2x3, βˆ’4x2 and 6x.

The GCF (greatest common factor) is the greatest factor of all terms.

In the case of 2x3βˆ’4x2+6x, the GCF is 2x. By factoring 2x out, we obtain

2x(x2βˆ’2x+3).

βˆ™ Another example:

2(xβˆ’9)βˆ’x(xβˆ’9).

Here the terms are 2(xβˆ’9) and βˆ’x(xβˆ’9). The GCF is the binomial xβˆ’9. By factoring xβˆ’9 out, we obtain

(2βˆ’x)(xβˆ’9).

βˆ™ Factoring by Grouping

This method applies to four-term polynomials. First, factor the GCF out of the four terms, if any. Then factor the GCF out of the first two terms. Factor the GCF out of the last two terms. If the two remaining factors share a common binomial factor, factor it out.

2acx2+2adx+2bcx+2bd=2⏟2adx,2bcxand2bdGCFof2acx2,(acx2+adx+bcx+bd)=2(ax⏟andadxGCFofacx2(cx+d)+b⏟andbdGCFofbcx(cx+d))=2(ax+b)(cx+d)⏟andb(cx+d)GCFofax(cx+d)

Video Lesson

Many times the mini-lesson will not be enough for you to start working on the problems. You need to see someone explaining the material to you. In the video you will find a variety of examples, solved step-by-step – starting from a simple one to a more complex one. Feel free to play them as many times as you need. Pause, rewind, replay, stop… follow your pace!

Video Lesson

A video lesson on the GCF Factoring and Factoring by Grouping [9:30]

A description of the video

In the video you will see the following

  • 3x2y4(1βˆ’2xy2+3x2y3)
  • the GCF of 2β‹…32β‹…52 and 22β‹…33β‹…5
  • the GCF of x2, x3 and x4
  • the GCF of 3x2y4, 6x3y6 and 9x4y7
  • the GCF of 10x2y3 and 15x3y
  • factorization of 3x2y4βˆ’6x3y6+9x4y7
  • factorization of x2+3x+2x+6
  • factorization of 12x2+10xβˆ’18xβˆ’15

 

Try Questions

Now that you have read the material and watched the video, it is your turn to put in practice what you have learned. We encourage you to try the Try Questions on your own. When you are done, click on the β€œShow answer” tab to see if you got the correct answer.

Factor out the GCF 10x2y3βˆ’15x3y.

Factor out the GCF 5x6y9βˆ’10x7y6+5x3y5.

Factor by grouping 27x2+18xβˆ’6xβˆ’4.

WeBWorK

You should now be ready to start working on the WeBWorK problems. Doing the homework is an essential part of learning. It will help you practice the lesson and reinforce your knowledge.

WeBWorK

It is time to do the homework on WeBWork:

GCF-Grouping

When you are done, come back to this page for the Exit Questions.

Exit Questions

After doing the WeBWorK problems, come back to this page. The Exit Questions include vocabulary checking and conceptual questions. Knowing the vocabulary accurately is important for us to communicate. You will also find one last problem. All these questions will give you an idea as to whether or not you have mastered the material. Remember: the β€œShow Answer” tab is there for you to check your work!

  • What is a GCF?  Give an example.
  • How do you factor out a GCF?
  • When should you look to factor by grouping?  Is it always possible?

β˜…

(a) Factor the GCF out 100x3y2βˆ’6xy.

(b) Factor by grouping 10x2+5xβˆ’4xβˆ’2.

Need more help?

Don’t wait too long to do the following.

  • Watch the additional video resources.
https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/mat1275covideolibrary-/factoring-out-the-gcf/
Additional video resources on GCF Factoring
https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/mat1275covideolibrary-/factoring-by-grouping/
Additional video resources on Factoring by Grouping
  • Talk to your instructor.
  • Form a study group.
  • Visit a tutor. For more information, check the tutoring page.