To Factor A Trinomial ax²+bx+c when a=1

1) Factor x² into x (x).

2) Find two numbers who are factors of the last term (constant term), c, and whose sum equals the coefficient of the middle term (x-term) b.

3) Use the two numbers found in the above step, including their signs, to write the trinomial in factored form. The trinomial in factored form will be:

(X + a number) (X + a number)

Try this practice.
Factor each trinomial below.
1) x^2+7x+12	answer	4) x^2-2x-80	answer
2) x^2-6x+8	answer	5) b^2-11b+18	answer
3) x^2-18x+80	answer	6) x^2+8xy+15y^2	answer

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Created by Dr. Marcia L. Tharp

On 3/20/01

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