Lesson Objectives
• Demonstrate an understanding of how to factor out the GCF from a polynomial
• Learn how to factor by grouping

## Factoring by Grouping

In the last lesson, we learned how to factor out the GCF from a polynomial. In this lesson, we will learn how to factor a four-term polynomial using a process called "factoring by grouping".

### Factoring a Four-Term Polynomial by Grouping

• Look for the GCF of all terms. When the GCF is not 1, factor out the GCF
• Arrange the terms into two groups of two terms each, such that each group has a common factor
• In some cases, the common factor will be 1 or -1
• When we factor the GCF or -GCF out from each group, we should be left with a common binomial factor
• When we succeed and obtain a common binomial factor, we factor out the common binomial factor
• When a common binomial factor is not produced, we need to try a different grouping
Let's look at a few examples.
Example 1: Factor each
54x3 - 45x2 + 60x - 50
Step 1) What is the GCF of all terms?
GCF(54x3, 45x2, 60x, 50) = 1
Step 2) Arrange the terms into two groups of two terms each, such that each group has a common factor:
(54x3 - 45x2) + (60x - 50)
Step 3) Factor out the GCF or -GCF from each group:
9x2(6x - 5) + 10(6x - 5)
We will factor out the common binomial factor (6x - 5):
(9x2 + 10)(6x - 5)
Example 2: Factor each
30x3 - 105x2 + 24x - 84
Step 1) What is the GCF of all terms?
GCF(30x3, 105x2, 24x, 84) = 3
Since the GCF is not 1, factor out the GCF:
3[10x3 - 35x2 + 8x - 28]
Step 2) Arrange the terms into two groups of two terms each, such that each group has a common factor:
3[(10x3 - 35x2) + (8x - 28)]
Step 3) Factor out the GCF or -GCF from each group:
3[5x2(2x - 7) + 4(2x - 7)]
We will factor out the common binomial factor (2x - y):
3(5x2 + 4)(2x - 7)
Example 3: Factor each
20xy + 40 + 16x + 50y
Step 1) What is the GCF of all terms?
GCF(20xy, 40, 16x, 50y) = 2
Since the GCF is not 1, factor out the GCF:
2[10xy + 20 + 8x + 25y]
Step 2) Arrange the terms into two groups of two terms each, such that each group has a common factor:
2[10xy + 20 + 8x + 25y]
Since 8x and 25y don't have a common factor other than 1, let's rearrange terms:
2[(10xy + 25y) + (8x + 20)]
Step 3) Factor out the GCF or -GCF from each group:
2[5y(2x + 5) + 4(2x + 5)]
We will factor out the common binomial factor (2x + 5):
2[(5y + 4)(2x + 5)]
Example 4: Factor each
30xy + 6 - 10x - 18y
Step 1) What is the GCF of all terms?
GCF(30xy, 6, 10x, 18y) = 2
Since the GCF is not 1, factor out the GCF:
2[15xy + 3 - 5x - 9y]
Step 2) Arrange the terms into two groups of two terms each, such that each group has a common factor:
2[15xy + 3 - 5x - 9y]
Since 5x and 9y don't have a common factor other than 1, let's rearrange terms:
2[(15xy - 5x) + (3 - 9y)]
Step 3) Factor out the GCF or -GCF from each group:
2[5x(3y - 1) + 3(1 - 3y)]
Notice how we have opposites:
(3y - 1) and (1 - 3y) are opposites.
If we factor out a -1 from either, we will have a common binomial factor (3y - 1):
2[5x(3y - 1) + (-3)(-1 + 3y)]
2[5x(3y - 1) - 3(3y - 1)]
We will factor out the common binomial factor (3y - 1):
2(5x - 3)(3y - 1)
Example 5: Factor each
5xy + 12 + 15x + 4y
Step 1) What is the GCF of all terms?
GCF(5xy, 12, 15x, 4y) = 1
Step 2) Arrange the terms into two groups of two terms each, such that each group has a common factor:
5xy + 12 + 15x + 4y
Since 5xy and 12 don't have a common factor other than 1, let's rearrange terms:
(5xy + 15x) + (12 + 4y)
Step 3) Factor out the GCF or -GCF from each group:
5x(y + 3) + 4(3 + y)
5x(y + 3) + 4(y + 3)
We will factor out the common binomial factor (y + 3):
(5x + 4)(y + 3)

#### Skills Check:

Example #1

Factor each $$48x^3 + 36x^2 + 80x + 60$$

A
$$12(3x^2 - 5)(x^2 + 1)$$
B
$$4(3x^2 - 5)(4x - 3)$$
C
$$4(3x^2 + 5)(4x + 3)$$
D
$$12(4x + 5)(x^2 + 1)$$
E
$$3(x - 3)(x + 5)$$

Example #2

Factor each $$24x^3 - 18x^2 + 60x - 45$$

A
$$3(2x^2 - 5)(2x^2 - 3)$$
B
$$3(2x^2 + 5)(4x - 3)$$
C
$$(2x^2 - 3)(4x + 5)$$
D
$$3(2x^2 - 3)(4x + 5)$$
E
$$(2x^2 + 3)(4x - 5)$$

Example #3

Factor each $$4xy-9-6x+6y$$

A
$$(2x + 3)(2y - 3)$$
B
$$(4x - 1)(3x + 5)$$
C
$$(2x + 3)(3y + 1)$$
D
$$(2x - 3)(y + 1)$$
E
$$4(x + 3)(y - 2)$$

Example #4

Factor each $$5xy - 2 - 2x + 5y$$

A
$$(x - 1)(5y - 2)$$
B
$$(x + 1)(y + 2)$$
C
$$(x + 1)(5y - 2)$$
D
$$(x + 1)(5y + 1)$$
E
$$5(x + 1)(y - 2)$$

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