Factoring Trinomials (a = 1)

                     Lesson 1

Problem:                   Factor:  x² - 9x +20

Step 1: The first term must be x to get the leading term as x², (x) (x)

The product of last must be = 20

Solution Possible answers are -4 and -5, -10 and -2, +4 and -5, -2 and 10.

             Step 2:                        Perform the operation on each of these pairs to yield the middle term.

-5 - 4 = -9

Solution The trinomial will be x² - 5x – 4x + 20.

                                                             Step 3:    

= x (x - 5) – 4 (x - 5)

                                                                                = (x – 4) (x - 5)

 Solution                     The answer is:  (x – 4) (x - 5)

 Step 4:                                                                      

 Complete   

                                                            Try two practice problems:  

Factor the following:

A.	x^2- 6x + 9
B.	x^2- 36

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