Factorise and multiply back
Use integer coefficients. A product must preserve the original expression and leave no common factor or applicable square identity unfinished
- Find what every term shares Use the highest common factor of the integer coefficients and the lowest power shared by every term
- Divide every term The terms inside the bracket are the original terms divided by the outside factor
- Keep the requested sign convention A negative outside factor changes every sign inside. A positive outside factor can give an equivalent product, but a labelled table may request one convention
- Check by expanding Multiplying back must reproduce every original term. Then check that no common factor or applicable difference of perfect squares remains
- Difference of squares Keep the positive and subtracted square bases in their original order \(\displaystyle a^2-b^2=(a+b)(a-b)\)
Worked example
Factorise completely, then check the product
- \(\displaystyle 18x^2-32=2(9x^2-16)\)The numerical HCF is 2
- \(\displaystyle 9x^2=(3x)^2\)The first square base is 3x
- \(\displaystyle 16=4^2\)The second square base is 4
- \(\displaystyle 2(3x+4)(3x-4)\)Keep the common factor and both brackets
- \(\displaystyle 2(9x^2-16)=18x^2-32\)Expanding reproduces the original expression
Common mistakes
Difficulty levels
Questions about this topic
Can I take out a negative common factor?+
Yes. Divide every term by it, including its sign. An equivalent positive-factor form may also exist; a table can explicitly request one sign convention
What does fully factorised mean here?+
Use integer coefficients and remove every shared monomial and applicable difference of perfect squares. Evaluate numerical multipliers such as 4 − 1
Does checking one value prove the factorisation?+
No. Multiplying out gives an identity check. One differing value disproves a proposal, but one matching value is insufficient
Why use the lowest common exponent?+
Every term must contain the whole outside factor. For x³ and x², x² is shared but x³ is not
What changes when the constant square is first?+
Keep that order. For 25 − 4x² the bases are 5 then 2x, so use (5 + 2x)(5 − 2x)
Can I use a calculator?+
No. This topic is practised without a calculator
Which year level and chapter is this?+
Year 9 Mathematics, chapter 8: Algebraic expressions and fractions