Factor Trinomial: Grid Method

Using a grid can be a helpful way to factor a trinomial. The objective of factoring a trinomial is to begin with an expression such as

    \[ax^2+bx+c\]

where a, b, and c have no common factors*; and write an equivalent expression

    \[ax^2+bx+c=(mx+r)(nx+t)\]

For example

    \[2x^2+5x-12=(2x-3)(x+4)\]

The grid method can also be used with an unreduced quadratic. See ‘method 2’ below.

Highest Common Factor

In order to use the grid method, we need to be able to take the highest common factor of two terms.

For example, the highest common factor of 15x^2 and 20x is 5x.

The highest common factor of 4x and 16 is 4.

We can write this using shorthand notation:

HCF(15x^2,20x)=5x

HCF(4x,16)=4

Review highest common factor here.

The Grid Method

In general, the grid is filled out as follows:

Let’s examine 2x^2+5x-12

We begin by drawing a 2 by 2 grid, with space on top and on the left as follows:

We first enter the ax^2 term and the c term as follows.

We then need to find two numbers p and q such that

    \[p \times q = a \times c \text{  and  } p + q = b\]

In our example, that is

    \[p \times q = 2 \times -12=-24 \text{  and  } p + q = 5\]

Study the factor pairs of 24, remembering that to multiply to a negative, one of the factors must be negative. The list includes: (1,24); (2, 12); (3, 8); \dots. The factor pair 3, 8 works using -3:

    \[-3 \times 8= -24 \text{  and  } -3 + 8 = 5\]

We complete the grid using these two values as follows (either way around):

If the quadratic is reduced (that is, HCF(a,b,c)=1), we can now simply take the highest common factor from each row/column as follows:

First row:

Second row:

First column:

Second column:

Check that each term in the grid is the product of green terms in the same row and column:

On the left, we see our factor (2x-3) and on the top row we see the factor (x+4). Therefore,

    \[2x^2+5x-12=(2x-3)(x+4)\]

Check by expanding the brackets.


Method 2

If the quadratic is not reduced, we take the highest common factor from any one row or column, and then complete the remaining boxes as follows:

Highest common factor from any one row or column:

What multiplies 2x to get 2x^2? Complete first column:

What multiplies x to get -3x? Complete second row:

What multiplies 2x to get 8x? Complete second column.

Check the last box works too:

If the quadratic was not already reduced, you will see a common factor in at least one of your two factors.


Practice

applet link


Why it works