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Factoring quadratics: leading coefficient ≠ 1

Learn how to factor quadratic expressions as the product of two linear binomials. For example, 2x²+7x+3=(2x+1)(x+3).

What you need to know before taking this lesson

The grouping method can be used to factor polynomials with 4 terms by taking out common factors multiple times. If this is new to you, you'll want to check out our Intro to factoring by grouping article.
We also recommend that you review our article on factoring quadratics with a leading coefficient of 1 before proceeding.

What you will learn in this lesson

In this article, we will use grouping to factor quadratics with a leading coefficient other than 1, like 2, x, squared, plus, 7, x, plus, 3.

Example 1: Factoring 2, x, squared, plus, 7, x, plus, 3

Since the leading coefficient of left parenthesis, start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, x, squared, start color #e07d10, plus, 7, end color #e07d10, x, start color #aa87ff, plus, 3, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis is start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, we cannot use the sum-product method to factor the quadratic expression.
Instead, to factor start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, x, squared, start color #e07d10, plus, 7, end color #e07d10, x, start color #aa87ff, plus, 3, end color #aa87ff, we need to find two integers with a product of start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, dot, start color #aa87ff, 3, end color #aa87ff, equals, 6 (the leading coefficient times the constant term) and a sum of start color #e07d10, 7, end color #e07d10 (the x-coefficient).
Since start color #01a995, 1, end color #01a995, dot, start color #01a995, 6, end color #01a995, equals, 6 and start color #01a995, 1, end color #01a995, plus, start color #01a995, 6, end color #01a995, equals, 7, the two numbers are start color #01a995, 1, end color #01a995 and start color #01a995, 6, end color #01a995.
These two numbers tell us how to break up the x-term in the original expression. So we can express our polynomial as 2, x, squared, plus, 7, x, plus, 3, equals, 2, x, squared, plus, start color #01a995, 1, end color #01a995, x, plus, start color #01a995, 6, end color #01a995, x, plus, 3.
We can now use grouping to factor the polynomial:
=  2x2+1x+6x+3=(2x2+1x)+(6x+3)Group terms=x(2x+1)+3(2x+1)Factor out GCFs=x(2x+1)+3(2x+1)Common factor!=(2x+1)(x+3)Factor out 2x+1\begin{aligned}&\phantom{=}~~2x^2+1x+6x+3\\\\ &=({2x^2+1x}){+(6x+3)}&&\small{\gray{\text{Group terms}}}\\ \\ &=x({2x+1})+3({2x+1})&&\small{\gray{\text{Factor out GCFs}}}\\ \\ &=x(\maroonD{2x+1})+3(\maroonD{2x+1})&&\small{\gray{\text{Common factor!}}}\\\\ &=(\maroonD{2x+1})(x+3)&&\small{\gray{\text{Factor out } 2x+1}} \end{aligned}
The factored form is left parenthesis, 2, x, plus, 1, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, x, plus, 3, right parenthesis.
We can check our work by showing that the factors multiply back to 2, x, squared, plus, 7, x, plus, 3.

Summary

In general, we can use the following steps to factor a quadratic of the form start color #11accd, a, end color #11accd, x, squared, plus, start color #e07d10, b, end color #e07d10, x, plus, start color #aa87ff, c, end color #aa87ff:
  1. Start by finding two numbers that multiply to start color #11accd, a, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, c, end color #aa87ff and add to start color #e07d10, b, end color #e07d10.
  2. Use these numbers to split up the x-term.
  3. Use grouping to factor the quadratic expression.

Check your understanding

1) Factor 3, x, squared, plus, 10, x, plus, 8.
Choose 1 answer:

2) Factor 4, x, squared, plus, 16, x, plus, 15.

Example 2: Factoring 6, x, squared, minus, 5, x, minus, 4

To factor start color #11accd, 6, end color #11accd, x, squared, start color #e07d10, minus, 5, end color #e07d10, x, start color #aa87ff, minus, 4, end color #aa87ff, we need to find two integers with a product of start color #11accd, 6, end color #11accd, dot, left parenthesis, start color #aa87ff, minus, 4, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis, equals, minus, 24 and a sum of start color #e07d10, minus, 5, end color #e07d10.
Since start color #01a995, 3, end color #01a995, dot, left parenthesis, start color #01a995, minus, 8, end color #01a995, right parenthesis, equals, minus, 24 and start color #01a995, 3, end color #01a995, plus, left parenthesis, start color #01a995, minus, 8, end color #01a995, right parenthesis, equals, minus, 5, the numbers are start color #01a995, 3, end color #01a995 and start color #01a995, minus, 8, end color #01a995.
We can now write the term minus, 5, x as the sum of start color #01a995, 3, end color #01a995, x and start color #01a995, minus, 8, end color #01a995, x and use grouping to factor the polynomial:
= 6x2+3x8x4(1)=(6x2+3x)+(8x4)Group terms(2)=3x(2x+1)+(4)(2x+1)Factor out GCFs(3)=3x(2x+1)4(2x+1)Simplify(4)=3x(2x+1)4(2x+1)Common factor!(5)=(2x+1)(3x4)Factor out 2x+1\begin{aligned}&&&\phantom{=}~6x^2+\tealD{3}x\tealD{-8}x-4\\\\ \small{\blueD{(1)}}&&&=({6x^2+3x}){+(-8x-4)}&&\small{\gray{\text{Group terms}}}\\ \\ \small{\blueD{(2)}}&&&=3x({2x+1})+(-4)({2x+1})&&\small{\gray{\text{Factor out GCFs}}}\\ \\ \small{\blueD{(3)}}&&&=3x({2x+1})-4({2x+1})&&\small{\gray{\text{Simplify}}}\\ \\ \small{\blueD{(4)}}&&&=3x(\maroonD{2x+1})-4(\maroonD{2x+1})&&\small{\gray{\text{Common factor!}}}\\\\ \small{\blueD{(5)}}&&&=(\maroonD{2x+1})(3x-4)&&\small{\gray{\text{Factor out } 2x+1}}\\ \end{aligned}
The factored form is left parenthesis, 2, x, plus, 1, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, 3, x, minus, 4, right parenthesis.
We can check our work by showing that the factors multiply back to 6, x, squared, minus, 5, x, minus, 4.
Take note: In step start color #11accd, left parenthesis, 1, right parenthesis, end color #11accd above, notice that because the third term is negative, a "+" was inserted between the groupings to keep the expression equivalent to the original. Also, in step start color #11accd, left parenthesis, 2, right parenthesis, end color #11accd, we needed to factor out a negative GCF from the second grouping to reveal a common factor of 2, x, plus, 1. Be careful with your signs!

Check your understanding

3) Factor 2, x, squared, minus, 3, x, minus, 9.
Choose 1 answer:

4) Factor 3, x, squared, minus, 2, x, minus, 5.

5) Factor 6, x, squared, minus, 13, x, plus, 6.

When is this method useful?

Well, clearly, the method is useful to factor quadratics of the form a, x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c, even when a, does not equal, 1.
However, it's not always possible to factor a quadratic expression of this form using our method.
For example, let's take the expression start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, x, squared, start color #e07d10, plus, 2, end color #e07d10, x, start color #aa87ff, plus, 1, end color #aa87ff. To factor it, we need to find two integers with a product of start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, dot, start color #aa87ff, 1, end color #aa87ff, equals, 2 and a sum of start color #e07d10, 2, end color #e07d10. Try as you might, you will not find two such integers.
Therefore, our method doesn't work for start color #11accd, 2, end color #11accd, x, squared, start color #e07d10, plus, 2, end color #e07d10, x, start color #aa87ff, plus, 1, end color #aa87ff, and for a bunch of other quadratic expressions.
It's useful to remember, however, that if this method doesn't work, it means the expression cannot be factored as left parenthesis, A, x, plus, B, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, C, x, plus, D, right parenthesis where A, B, C, and D are integers.

Why is this method working?

Let's take a deep dive into why this method is at all successful. We will have to use a bunch of letters here, but please bear with us!
Suppose the general quadratic expression a, x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c can be factored as left parenthesis, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, x, plus, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, x, plus, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis with integers A, B, C, and D.
When we expand the parentheses, we obtain the quadratic expression left parenthesis, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis, x, squared, plus, left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, plus, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis, x, plus, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff.
Since this expression is equivalent to a, x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c, the corresponding coefficients in the two expressions must be equal! This gives us the following relationship between all the unknown letters:
left parenthesis, start underbrace, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, end underbrace, start subscript, a, end subscript, right parenthesis, x, squared, plus, left parenthesis, start underbrace, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, plus, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, end underbrace, start subscript, b, end subscript, right parenthesis, x, plus, left parenthesis, start underbrace, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, end underbrace, start subscript, c, end subscript, right parenthesis
Now, let's define m, equals, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54 and n, equals, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff.
left parenthesis, start underbrace, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, end underbrace, start subscript, a, end subscript, right parenthesis, x, squared, plus, left parenthesis, start underbrace, start overbrace, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, end overbrace, start superscript, m, end superscript, plus, start overbrace, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, end overbrace, start superscript, n, end superscript, end underbrace, start subscript, b, end subscript, right parenthesis, x, plus, left parenthesis, start underbrace, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, end underbrace, start subscript, c, end subscript, right parenthesis
According to this definition...
m, plus, n, equals, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, plus, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, equals, b
and
m, dot, n, equals, left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis, equals, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis, equals, a, dot, c
And so start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54 and start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff are the two integers we are always looking for when we use this factorization method!
The next step in the method after finding m and n is to split the x-coefficient left parenthesis, b, right parenthesis according to m and n and factor using grouping.
Indeed, if we split the x-term left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, plus, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis, x into left parenthesis, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, right parenthesis, x, plus, left parenthesis, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis, x, we will be able to use grouping to factor our expression back into left parenthesis, start color #11accd, A, end color #11accd, x, plus, start color #e07d10, B, end color #e07d10, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, start color #1fab54, C, end color #1fab54, x, plus, start color #aa87ff, D, end color #aa87ff, right parenthesis.
In conclusion, in this section we...
  • started with the general expanded expression a, x, squared, plus, b, x, plus, c and its general factorization left parenthesis, A, x, plus, B, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, C, x, plus, D, right parenthesis,
  • were able to find two numbers, m and n, such that m, n, equals, a, c and m, plus, n, equals, b left parenthesiswe did so by defining m, equals, B, C and n, equals, A, D, right parenthesis,
  • split the x-term b, x into m, x, plus, n, x, and were able to factor the expanded expression back into left parenthesis, A, x, plus, B, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, C, x, plus, D, right parenthesis.
This process shows why, if an expression can indeed be factored as left parenthesis, A, x, plus, B, right parenthesis, left parenthesis, C, x, plus, D, right parenthesis, our method will ensure that we find this factorization.
Thanks for pulling through!

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