how to solve equations using factoring

• Varsity Tutors
• K-5 Subjects
• Study Skills
• All AP Subjects
• AP Calculus
• AP Chemistry
• AP Computer Science
• AP Human Geography
• AP Macroeconomics
• AP Microeconomics
• AP Statistics
• AP US History
• AP World History
• All Business
• Business Calculus
• Microsoft Excel
• Supply Chain Management
• All Humanities
• Essay Editing
• All Languages
• Mandarin Chinese
• Portuguese Chinese
• Sign Language
• All Learning Differences
• Learning Disabilities
• Special Education
• College Math
• Common Core Math
• Elementary School Math
• High School Math
• Middle School Math
• Pre-Calculus
• Trigonometry
• All Science
• Organic Chemistry
• Physical Chemistry
• All Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Industrial Engineering
• Materials Science & Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Thermodynamics
• Biostatistics
• College Essays
• High School
• College & Adult
• 1-on-1 Private Tutoring
• Online Tutoring
• Instant Tutoring
• Pricing Info
• All AP Exams
• ACT Tutoring
• ACT Reading
• ACT Science
• ACT Writing
• SAT Tutoring
• SAT Reading
• SAT Writing
• GRE Tutoring
• NCLEX Tutoring
• Real Estate License
• And more...
• StarCourses
• Beginners Coding
• Early Childhood
• For Schools Overview
• Talk with Our Team
• Reviews & Testimonials
• Press & Media Coverage
• Tutor/Instructor Jobs
• Corporate Solutions
• About Nerdy
• Become a Tutor

Solving Quadratic Equations Using Factoring

To solve an quadratic equation using factoring :

      1 . Transform the equation using standard form in which one side is zero.

      2 .  Factor the non-zero side.

      3 .  Set each factor to zero (Remember: a product of factors is zero if and only if one or more of the factors is zero).

      4 .  Solve each resulting equation.

Solve the equation, x 2 − 3 x − 10 = 0

Factor the left side: ( x − 5 ) ( x + 2 ) = 0

Set each factor to zero: x − 5 = 0     or     x + 2 = 0

Solve each equation: x = 5     or     x = − 2

The solution set is { 5 , − 2 } .

Solve the equation, 2 x 2 + 5 x = 12

Set the right side to zero: 2 x 2 + 5 x − 12 = 0

Factor the left side: ( 2 x − 3 ) ( x + 4 ) = 0

Set each factor to zero: 2 x − 3 = 0 or x + 4 = 0

Solve each equation: x = 3 2 or x = − 4

The solution set is { 3 2 , − 4 } .

Download our free learning tools apps and test prep books

If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser.

Course: Algebra 1   >   Unit 14

Solving quadratics by factoring.

• Quadratics by factoring (intro)
• Solving quadratics by factoring: leading coefficient ≠ 1
• Quadratics by factoring
• Solving quadratics using structure
• Solve equations using structure
• Quadratic equations word problem: triangle dimensions
• Quadratic equations word problem: box dimensions
• Solving quadratics by factoring review

Want to join the conversation?

• Upvote Button navigates to signup page
• Downvote Button navigates to signup page
• Flag Button navigates to signup page

Video transcript

Other Types of Equations

Solving equations using factoring.

We have used factoring to solve quadratic equations, but it is a technique that we can use with many types of polynomial equations, which are equations that contain a string of terms including numerical coefficients and variables. When we are faced with an equation containing polynomials of degree higher than 2, we can often solve them by factoring.

A General Note: Polynomial Equations

A polynomial of degree n is an expression of the type

where n is a positive integer and [latex]{a}_{n},\dots ,{a}_{0}[/latex] are real numbers and [latex]{a}_{n}\ne 0[/latex].

Setting the polynomial equal to zero gives a polynomial equation . The total number of solutions (real and complex) to a polynomial equation is equal to the highest exponent n .

Example 4: Solving a Polynomial by Factoring

Solve the polynomial by factoring: [latex]5{x}^{4}=80{x}^{2}[/latex].

First, set the equation equal to zero. Then factor out what is common to both terms, the GCF.

Notice that we have the difference of squares in the factor [latex]{x}^{2}-16[/latex], which we will continue to factor and obtain two solutions. The first term, [latex]5{x}^{2}[/latex], generates, technically, two solutions as the exponent is 2, but they are the same solution.

The solutions are [latex]x=0\text{ (double solution),}[/latex] [latex]x=4[/latex], and [latex]x=-4[/latex].

Analysis of the Solution

We can see the solutions on the graph in Figure 1. The x- coordinates of the points where the graph crosses the x- axis are the solutions–the x- intercepts. Notice on the graph that at the solution [latex]x=0[/latex], the graph touches the x- axis and bounces back. It does not cross the x- axis. This is typical of double solutions.

Solve by factoring: [latex]12{x}^{4}=3{x}^{2}[/latex].

Example 5: Solve a Polynomial by Grouping

Solve a polynomial by grouping: [latex]{x}^{3}+{x}^{2}-9x - 9=0[/latex].

This polynomial consists of 4 terms, which we can solve by grouping. Grouping procedures require factoring the first two terms and then factoring the last two terms. If the factors in the parentheses are identical, we can continue the process and solve, unless more factoring is suggested.

The grouping process ends here, as we can factor [latex]{x}^{2}-9[/latex] using the difference of squares formula.

The solutions are [latex]x=3[/latex], [latex]x=-3[/latex], and [latex]x=-1[/latex]. Note that the highest exponent is 3 and we obtained 3 solutions. We can see the solutions, the x- intercepts, on the graph in Figure 2.

We looked at solving quadratic equations by factoring when the leading coefficient is 1. When the leading coefficient is not 1, we solved by grouping. Grouping requires four terms, which we obtained by splitting the linear term of quadratic equations. We can also use grouping for some polynomials of degree higher than 2, as we saw here, since there were already four terms.

• College Algebra. Authored by : OpenStax College Algebra. Provided by : OpenStax. Located at : http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected]:1/Preface . License : CC BY: Attribution

Solve by Factoring Lessons

Several previous lessons explain the techniques used to factor expressions. This lesson focuses on an imporatant application of those techniques – solving equations.

Why solve by factoring?

The most fundamental tools for solving equations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. These methods work well for equations like x + 2 = 10 – 2x   and   2(x – 4) = 0.

But what about equations where the variable carries an exponent, like x 2 + 3x = 8x – 6? This is where factoring comes in. We will use this equation in the first example.

The Solve by Factoring process will require four major steps:

• Move all terms to one side of the equation, usually the left, using addition or subtraction.
• Factor the equation completely.
• Set each factor equal to zero, and solve.
• List each solution from Step 3 as a solution to the original equation.

First Example

The first step is to move all terms to the left using addition and subtraction. First, we will subtract 8x from each side.

Now, we will add 6 to each side.

With all terms on the left side, we proceed to Step 2.

We identify the left as a trinomial, and factor it accordingly:

We now have two factors, (x – 2) and (x – 3).

We now set each factor equal to zero. The result is two subproblems:

Solving the first subproblem, x – 2 = 0, gives x = 2. Solving the second subproblem, x – 3 = 0, gives x = 3.

The final step is to combine the two previous solutions, x = 2 and x = 3, into one solution for the original problem.

Solve by Factoring: Why does it work?

Examine the equation below:

If you let a = 3, then logivally b must equal 0. Similarly, if you let b = 10, then a must equal 0.

Now try letting a be some other non-zero number. You should observe that as long as a does not equal 0, b must be equal to zero.

To state the observation more generally, “If ab = 0, then either a = 0 or b = 0.” This is an important property of zero which we exploit when solving by factoring.

When the example was factored into (x – 2)(x – 3) = 0, this property was applied to determine that either (x – 2) must equal zero, or (x – 3) must equal zero. Therefore, we were able to create two equations and determine two solutions from this observation.

A Second Example

Move all terms to the left side of the equation. We do this by subtracting 45x from each side.

The next step is to factor the left side completely. We first note that the two terms on the left have a greatest common factor of 5x.

Now, (x 2 – 9) can be factored as a difference between two squares.

We are left with three factors: 5x, (x + 3), and (x – 3). As explained in the “Why does it work?” section, at least one of the three factors must be equal to zero.

Create three subproblems by setting each factor equal to zero.

Solving the first equation gives x = 0. Solving the second equation gives x = -3. And solving the third equation gives x= 3.

The final solution is formed from the solutions to the three subproblems.

Third Example

Steps 1 and 2.

All three terms are already on the left side of the equation, so we may begin factoring. First, we factor out a greatest common factor of 3.

Next, we factor a trinomial.

Finally, we factor the binomial (x 2 – 100) as a difference between two squares.

We proceed by setting each of the four factors equal to zero, resulting in four new equations.

The first equation is invalid, and does not yield a solution. The second equation cannot be solved using basic methods. (x 2 + 4 = 0 actually has two imaginary number solutions, but we will save Imaginary Numbers for another lesson!) Equation 3 has a solution of x = -10, and Equation 4 has a solution of x = 10.

We now include all the solutions we found in a single solution to the original problem:

This may be abbreviated as

Solve By Factoring Resources

Looking for someone to help you with algebra? At Wyzant, connect with algebra tutors and math tutors nearby. Prefer to meet online? Find online algebra tutors or online math tutors in a couple of clicks.

• Horizontal Tangents of Implicitly Defined Curve (No Calculator)
• how do i find the uncertanity of c (specific heat of water)
• 2nd order differential equations
• Describing Data

• HW Guidelines
• Study Skills Quiz
• Find Local Tutors
• Demo MathHelp.com
• Join MathHelp.com

Select a Course Below

• ACCUPLACER Math
• Math Placement Test
• PRAXIS Math
• + more tests
• 5th Grade Math
• 6th Grade Math
• Pre-Algebra
• College Pre-Algebra
• Introductory Algebra
• Intermediate Algebra
• College Algebra

Solving Quadratic Equations by Factoring

Factoring Roots Completing the Square Formula Graphing Examples

This lesson covers many ways to solve quadratics, such as taking square roots, completing the square, and using the Quadratic Formula . But we'll start with solving by factoring.

(Before reaching the topic of solving quadratic equations, you should already know how to factor quadratic expressions. If not, first review how to factor quadratics .)

Content Continues Below

MathHelp.com

You've already factored quadratic expressions. The new thing here is that the quadratic expression is part of an equation, and you're told to solve for the values of the variable that make the equation true.

How to solve a quadratic equation by factoring

• Put the quadratic expression on one side of the "equals" sign, with zero on the other side.
• Factor the quadratic expression into its two linear factors.
• Set each of these linear factors equal to zero, creating two linear equations.
• Solve the two linear equations.

Note: This process finds the zeroes (or solutions, or roots, or x -intercepts) of the quadratic by using the fact that a multiplication is equal to zero only if at least one of the factors being multiplied is equal to zero. (This is called the "Zero-Product Property".) This property says something that seems fairly obvious, but only after it's been pointed out to us; namely:

Zero-Product Property : If we multiply two (or more) things together and the result is equal to zero, then we know that at least one of those things that we multiplied must also have been equal to zero. Put another way, the only way for us to get zero when we multiply two (or more) factors together is for one of the factors to have been zero.

So, if we multiply two (or more) factors and get a zero result, then we know that at least one of the factors was itself equal to zero. In particular, we can set each of the factors equal to zero, and solve the resulting equation for one solution of the original equation.

We can only draw the helpful conclusion about the factors of the quadratic (namely, that one of those factors must have been equal to zero, so we can set the factors equal to zero) if the product itself equals zero. If the product of factors is equal to anything non-zero, then we can not make any claim about the values of the factors.

Therefore, when solving quadratic equations by factoring, we must always have the equation in the form "(quadratic expression) equals (zero)" before we make any attempt to solve the quadratic equation by factoring.

• Solve ( x − 3)( x − 4) = 0 by factoring.

Okay, this quadratic is already factored for me. But how do I use this factorisation to solve the equation?

The Zero Factor Principle tells me that at least one of the factors must be equal to zero. Since at least one of the factors must be zero, then I can set each of the factors equal to zero:

x − 3 = 0   or   x − 4 = 0

This gives me simple linear equations, and they're easy to solve :

x = 3   or   x = 4

And these two values are the solution they're looking for:

Note that " x = 3, 4 " means the same thing as " x  = 3 or x  = 4 "; the only difference is the formatting. The " x  = 3, 4 " format is more common.

• Solve x 2  + 5 x  + 6 = 0 , and check.

This equation is already in the form "(quadratic) equals (zero)" but, unlike the previous example, this isn't yet factored. I MUST factor the quadratic first, because it is only when I MULTIPLY and get zero that I can say anything about the factors and solutions. I can't conclude anything about the individual terms of the unfactored quadratic (like the 5 x or the 6 ), because I can add lots of stuff that totals to zero.

So the first thing I have to do is factor:

x 2 + 5 x + 6 = ( x + 2)( x + 3)

Now I can restate the original equation in terms of a product of factors, with this product being equal to zero:

( x + 2)( x + 3) = 0

Now I can solve each factor by setting each one equal to zero and solving the resulting linear equations:

x + 2 = 0   or   x + 3 = 0

x = −2   or   x = − 3

These two values are the solution to the original quadratic equation. So my answer is:

x = −3, −2

I'm not done, though, because the original exercise told me to "check", which means that I need to plug my answers back into the original equation, and make sure it comes out right. In this case, I'll be plugging into the expression on the left-hand side of the original equation, and verifying that I end up with the right-hand side; in other words, I need to confirm that plugging in these solution values results with the left-hand side equalling 0 :

checking x = −3 :

[−3] 2 + 5[−3] + 6

9 − 15 + 6

9 + 6 − 15

15 − 15

checking x = −2 :

[−2] 2 + 5[−2] + 6

4 − 10 + 6

4 + 6 − 10

10 − 10

When an exercise specifies that you should solve "and check", they're looking for you to show that you've plugged your answers into the original exercise and gotten something that worked out right. The above, where I showed my checks, is all they're wanting. Just make sure to do your work neatly.

By the way, you can use this "checking" technique to verify your answers to any "solving" exercise. So, for instance, if you're not sure of your answer to a "factor and solve" question on the next test, try plugging your answers into the original equation, and confirming that your solutions lead to true statements.

• Solve x 2 − 3 = 2 x .

This equation is not in "(quadratic) equals (zero)" form, so I can't try to solve it yet. The first thing I need to do is get all the terms over on one side, with zero on the other side. Only then can I factor and solve:

x 2 − 3 = 2 x

x 2 − 2 x − 3 = 0

( x − 3)( x + 1) = 0

x − 3 = 0, x + 1 = 0

x = 3, x = −1

Then my solution is:

x = −1, 3

• Solve ( x + 2)( x + 3) = 12 .

It is very common for students to see this type of equation, and say:

"Cool! It's already factored! So I'll set the factors equal to 12 and solve to get x = 10 and x = 9. That was easy!"

Yeah, that was easy; it was also wrong. Very, very wrong.

Besides the fact that neither (10 + 2)(10 + 3) nor (9 + 2)(9 + 3) equals 12 , we should never forget that we must have "(quadratic) equals (zero)" before we can solve by factoring.

Returning to the exercise:

Tempting though it may be, I cannot set each of the factors on the left-hand side of the equation equal to the other side of the equation and solve. Doing so would give me an entirely-wrong mess.

Instead, I first have to multiply out and simplify the left-hand side, then subtract the 12 over to the left-hand side, and re-factor. Only then can I solve.

( x + 2)( x + 3) = 12

x 2 + 5 x + 6 = 12

x 2 + 5 x − 6 = 0

( x + 6)( x − 1) = 0

x + 6 = 0, x − 1 = 0

x = −6, x = 1

x = −6, 1

• Solve x 2 + 5 x = 0 .

This two-term quadratic is easier to factor than were the previous quadratics: I see immediately that I can factor an x out of both terms, taking the x out front. This gives me:

x ( x + 5) = 0

A very common mistake that students make at this stage is to "solve" the equation for " x  + 5 = 0 " by dividing through by the x . But that's an invalid step. Why? Because we can't divide by zero. How does that come into play here?

Advertisement

Dividing through by the factor x makes the implicit assumption that x was not equal to zero. There is absolutely no justification for making that assumption! And making that assumption would cause us to lose half of our solution to this equation.

I need to remember that it's okay for a factor to contain only a variable, without being added to other terms; in particular, " x " is a perfectly valid factor. I need to set both of the factors equal to zero, and then solve the two resulting linear equations:

x = 0, x + 5 = 0

x = 0, x = −5

x = 0, −5

The previous example had two terms and was easy to factor. There is one other case of two-term quadratics that we can factor to solve. It's only a bit more complicated:

• Solve x 2 − 4 = 0 .

This equation is in "(quadratic) equals (zero)" form, so it's ready for me to solve by factoring. But how do I factor this? By noticing that this is a difference of squares . I'll apply the difference-of-squares formula that I've memorized:

x 2 − 4 = 0

( x − 2)( x + 2) = 0

x − 2 = 0, x + 2 = 0

x = 2, x = −2

x = −2, 2

Note: The solution above can also be formatted as " x = ± 2" . This is pronounced as " x is equal to plus or minus 2 ".

The last example above leads us into how to solve by taking square roots, on the next page.

You can use the Mathway widget below to practice solving quadratic equations by factoring. Try the entered exercise, or type in your own exercise. Then click the button and select "Solve by factoring" to compare your answer to Mathway's. (Or skip ahead to the next page.)

Please accept "preferences" cookies in order to enable this widget.

(Click "Tap to view steps" to be taken directly to the Mathway site for a paid upgrade.)

URL: https://www.purplemath.com/modules/solvquad.htm

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6

Standardized Test Prep

College math, homeschool math, share this page.

• Terms of Use
• About Purplemath
• About the Author
• Tutoring from PM
• Advertising
• Linking to PM
• Site licencing

Visit Our Profiles