PSAT Math : How to factor a polynomial

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for PSAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Algebra

What is a possible value for x in x2 – 12x + 36 = 0 ?

Possible Answers:

There is not enough information

6

–6

2

Correct answer:

6

Explanation:

You need to factor to find the possible values for x. You need to fill in the blanks with two numbers with a sum of -12 and a product of 36. In both sets of parenthesis, you know you will be subtracting since a negative times a negative is a positive and a negative plus a negative is a negative

(x –__)(x –__).

You should realize that 6 fits into both blanks.

You must now set each set of parenthesis equal to 0.

x – 6 = 0; x – 6 = 0

Solve both equations: x = 6 

Example Question #4 : Factoring Polynomials

If r and t are constants and x2  +rx +6=(x+2)(x+t), what is the value of r?

Possible Answers:

7

5

It cannot be determined from the given information.

6

Correct answer:

5

Explanation:

We first expand the right hand side as x2+2x+tx+2t and factor out the x terms to get x2+(2+t)x+2t. Next we set this equal to the original left hand side to get x2+rx +6=x2+(2+t)x+2t, and then we subtract x2  from each side to get rx +6=(2+t)x+2t. Since the coefficients of the x terms on each side must be equal, and the constant terms on each side must be equal, we find that r=2+t and 6=2t, so t is equal to 3 and r is equal to 5.

Example Question #1 : How To Factor A Polynomial

Solve for x\(\displaystyle x\)

2x^2-4=3 +5\(\displaystyle 2x^2-4=3 +5\)

Possible Answers:

\sqrt{6}\(\displaystyle \sqrt{6}\)

\pm \sqrt{6}\(\displaystyle \pm \sqrt{6}\)

6\(\displaystyle 6\)

12\(\displaystyle 12\)

\pm \sqrt{12}\(\displaystyle \pm \sqrt{12}\)

Correct answer:

\pm \sqrt{6}\(\displaystyle \pm \sqrt{6}\)

Explanation:

2x^2-4=3 +5\(\displaystyle 2x^2-4=3 +5\)

First, add 4 to both sides:

\(\displaystyle 2x^2=12\)

Divide both sides by 2:

\(\displaystyle x^2=6\)

\(\displaystyle x=\pm \sqrt{6}\)

Example Question #43 : Variables

Let \(\displaystyle x\) and \(\displaystyle y\) be integers, such that \(\displaystyle x^3-y^3=56\). If \(\displaystyle x - y = 2\) and \(\displaystyle 3xy = 24\), then what is \(\displaystyle x^2+y^2\)?

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 12\)

\(\displaystyle 42\)

Cannot be determined

\(\displaystyle -20\)

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 20\)

Explanation:

We are told that x- y3 = 56. We can factor the left side of the equation using the formula for difference of cubes.

x- y3 = (x - y)(x2 + xy + y2) = 56

Since x - y = 2, we can substitute this value in for the factor x - y.

2(x2 + xy + y2) = 56

Divide both sides by 2.

x2 + xy + y= 28

Because we are trying to find x2 + y2, if we can get rid of xy, then we would have our answer. 

We are told that 3xy = 24. If we divide both sides by 3, we see that xy = 8.

We can then substitute this value into the equation x2 + xy + y= 28.

x2 + 8 + y= 28

Subtract both sides by eight.

x2 + y= 20.

The answer is 20. 

 

ALTERNATE SOLUTION:

We are told that x - y = 2 and 3xy = 24. This is a system of equations. 

If we solve the first equation in terms of x, we can then substitute this into the second equation.

x - y = 2

Add y to both sides.

x = y + 2

Now we will substitute this value for x into the second equation.

3(y+2)(y) = 24

Now we can divide both sides by three.

(y+2)(y) = 8

Then we distribute.

y2 + 2y = 8

Subtract 8 from both sides.

y2 + 2y - 8 = 0

We need to factor this by thinking of two numbers that multiply to give -8 but add to give 2. These numbers are 4 and -2.

(y + 4)(y - 2) = 0

This means either y - 4 = 0, or y + 2 = 0

y = -4, or y = 2

Because x = y + 2, if y = -4, then x must be -2. Similarly, if y = 2, then x must be 4. 

Let's see which combination of x and y will satisfy the final equation that we haven't used, x- y3 = 56.

If x = -2 and y = -4, then

(-2)3 - (-4)3 = -8 - (-64) = 56. So that means that x= -2 and y = -4 is a valid solution.

If x = 4 and y = 2, then

(4)3 - 2= 64 - 8 = 56. So that means x = 4 and y = 2 is also a valid solution.

The final value we are asked to find is x2 + y2.

If x= -2 and y = -4, then x2 + y= (-2)2 + (-4)2 = 4 + 16 = 20.

If x = 4 and y = 2, then  x2 + y= (4)2 + 22 = 16 + 4 = 20.

Thus, no matter which solution we use for x and y, x2 + y= 20.

The answer is 20. 

 

Example Question #2 : How To Factor A Polynomial

How many negative solutions are there to the equation below?

\(\displaystyle x^2 + 2x = 3\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3\)

\(\displaystyle 1\)

\(\displaystyle 0\)

 \(\displaystyle \geq 3\)

 

 

 

\(\displaystyle 2\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 1\)

Explanation:

First, subtract 3 from both sides in order to obtain an equation that equals 0:

\(\displaystyle x^2 +2x-3=0\)

The left side can be factored. We need factors of \(\displaystyle -3\) that add up to \(\displaystyle 2\)\(\displaystyle -1\) and \(\displaystyle 3\) work:

\(\displaystyle (x-1)(x+3) = 0\)

Set both factors equal to 0 and solve:

\(\displaystyle x - 1 = 0 \qquad \mbox{ or } \qquad x+3 =0\)

To solve the left equation, add 1 to both sides. To solve the right equation, subtract 3 from both sides. This yields two solutions:

\(\displaystyle x=1 \qquad x = -3\)

Only one of these solutions is negative, so the answer is 1.

Example Question #11 : Algebra

How many of the following are prime factors of the polynomial \(\displaystyle n^{4} +50n^{2} +625\) ?

(A) \(\displaystyle n + 5\)

(B) \(\displaystyle n^{2} + 25\)

(C) \(\displaystyle n^{2} + 5n + 25\)

(D) \(\displaystyle n^{3} + 125\)

Possible Answers:

One

None

Four

Three

Two

Correct answer:

One

Explanation:

\(\displaystyle n^{4} + 50n^{2} +625= \left (n^{2} \right ) ^{2} + 2 \cdot n^{2} \cdot 25 + 25 ^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle n^{4} +50n^{2} +625\) can be seen to fit the pattern 

\(\displaystyle A ^{2} +2AB + B^{2}\):

where \(\displaystyle A = n^{2} , B = 25\)

\(\displaystyle A ^{2} + 2AB + B^{2}\) can be factored as \(\displaystyle (A+B ) ^{2}\), so 

\(\displaystyle n^{4} + 50n^{2} +625= \left (n^{2} \right ) ^{2} + 2 \cdot n^{2} \cdot 25 + 25 ^{2} = \left ( n^{2} + 25\right )^{2}\)

\(\displaystyle n^{2} + 25\), as the sum of squares, is a prime polynomial, so the complete factorization is

\(\displaystyle n^{4} +50n^{2} +625 = \left ( n^{2} + 25\right )^{2}\),

making \(\displaystyle n^{2} + 25\) the only prime factor, and "one" the correct choice.

Example Question #1 : How To Factor A Polynomial

Completely factor the following expression:

\(\displaystyle 3x^3-27x\)

Possible Answers:

\(\displaystyle 3x(x-3)(x-3)\)

\(\displaystyle 3x(x+3)(x-3)\)

\(\displaystyle 3x(x+3)(x+3)\)

\(\displaystyle 3x(x^2-9)\)

\(\displaystyle 3x^3-27x\)

Correct answer:

\(\displaystyle 3x(x+3)(x-3)\)

Explanation:

To begin, factor out any like terms from the expression. In this case, the term \(\displaystyle 3x\) can be pulled out:

\(\displaystyle 3x(x^2-9)\)

Next, recall the difference of squares:

\(\displaystyle (a^2-b^2)=(a+b)(a-b)\)

Here, \(\displaystyle a=x\) and \(\displaystyle b=3\).

Thus, our answer is

\(\displaystyle 3x(x+3)(x-3)\).

Example Question #3 : How To Factor A Polynomial

2x + 3y = 5a + 2b        (1)

3x + 2y = 4a – b           (2)

Express x– y2 in terms of a and b

Possible Answers:

–〖9a〗+ 26ab –〖3b〗2) / 5

(–9a– 27ab +3b2) / 5

〖–9a〗+ 26ab +〖3b〗2) / 5

–〖9a〗+ 27ab +〖3b〗2) / 5

(–9a– 28ab –3b2) / 5

Correct answer:

(–9a– 28ab –3b2) / 5

Explanation:

Add the two equations together to yield 5x + 5y = 9a + b, then factor out 5 to get 5(x + y) = 9a + b; divide both sides by 5 to get x + y = (9a + b)/5; subtract the two equations to get x - y = -a - 3b. So, x– y2 = (x + y)(x – y) = (9a + b)/5 (–a – 3b) = (–[(9a)]– 28ab – [(3b)]2)/5

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