FACTORIZATION
NSMQ 2020
CONTEST 5R2
1 Simplify (x2 – x – 6)/(x2 – 2x – 8)
ANSWER: (x – 3)/(x – 4)
[(x + 2)(x – 3)/(x – 4)(x + 2) = (x – 3)/(x – 4)]
2 Simplify the rational expression (x2 – x – 2)/(x2 –
5x + 6)
ANSWER: (x + 1)/(x – 3)
[(x – 2)(x + 1)/(x – 3)(x – 2) = (x + 1)/(x – 3)]
3 Find the solution set of the inequality x3 + 5x2 +
2x + 10 < 0
ANSWER: {x : x < - 5}
[x2(x + 5) + 2(x + 5) < 0, (x2 + 2)(x + 5) < 0, x < -
5]
CONTEST 6 R2
2 Factorise completely 128x3 – 54y3
ANSWER: 2(4x – 3y)(16x2 + 12xy + 9y2)
[2(64x3 – 27y3) = 2((4x)3 – (3y)3) = 2(4x – 3y)(16x2
+ 12xy + 9y2)]
CONTEST 13R2
3 Factorize the polynomial p(x) = x4 + 9x2 – 36 as a
product of 2 binomials.
ANSWER: (x2 – 3)(x2 + 12)
[x4 + 12x2 - 3x2 – 36 = x2(x2 + 12) – 3(x2 + 12) =
(x2 – 3)(x2 + 12)]
CONTEST 14 R1
Solve the cubic equation
1 x3 – 3x2 – 25x + 75 = 0
ANSWER: x = 5, -5, 3
[x2(x – 3) – 25(x – 3) = (x – 5)(x + 5)(x – 3) = 0, x =
5, – 5, 3]
2 x3 – 2x2 – 16x + 32 = 0
ANSWER: x = 4, - 4, 2
[x2(x – 2) – 16(x – 2) = (x - 2)(x – 4)(x + 4) = 0, x =
4, -4, 2 ]
3 x3 – 2x2 – 15x = 0
ANSWER: x = 5, – 3, 0
[ x(x2 – 2x – 15) = x(x – 5)(x + 3) = 0, x = 5, -3, 0]
CONTEST 22 R1B
1 24x3 – 375y3
ANSWER: 3(2x – 5y)(4x2 + 10xy + 25y2)
[3((2x)3 – (5y)3) = 3(2x – 5y)(4x2 + 10xy + 25y2)]
2 54x3 + 16y3
ANSWER: 2(3x + 2y)(9x2 – 6xy + 4y2)
[2(27x3 + 8y3) = 2(3x + 2y)(9x2 – 6xy + 4y2)]
3 500x3 – 108y3
ANSWER: 4(5x – 3y)(25x2 + 15xy + 9y2)
[ 4(125x3 – 27y3) = 4(5x – 3y)(25x2 + 15xy + 9y2)]
CONTEST 32R1C
1 (x – 1)4 – (x – 1)2
ANSWER: x(x – 1)2(x – 2)
[(x – 1)2 ((x – 1)2 – 1)) = (x – 1)2(x – 1 – 1)(x – 1 + 1)
= x(x – 1)2(x – 2)]
2 (x + 1)4 + (x + 1)2
ANSWER: (x + 1)2(x2 + 2x + 2) accept (x +
1)2((x + 1)2 + 1)
[ (x + 1)2 ((x + 1)2 + 1) = (x + 1)2 (x2 + 2x + 2)]
3 (x + a)3 + x3
ANSWER: (2x + a)(x2 + ax + a2)
[(x + a + x)((x + a)2 - x(x + a) + x2) = (2x + a)((x
+ a)2 – ax)
= (2x + a)(x2 + ax + a2)]
PRELIMS
CONTEST 22 R1B
1 (x + 3)(x2 – 3x + 9)
ANSWER: x3 + 27
[sum of two cubes x3 + 33 ]
2 (8a2 – 6b)(8a2 + 6b)
ANSWER: 64a4 – 36b2
[Difference of 2 squares]
3 (2x – y)(4x2 + 2xy + y2)
ANSWER: 8x3 – y3
[difference of 2 cubes]
CONTEST 24R1B
1 x2 – 6x + 9 – 4y2
ANSWER: (x + 2y – 3)(x – 2y – 3)
[(x – 3)2 – 4y2 = (x + 2y – 3)(x – 2y – 3)
2 4x2 + 4x + 1 - 9y2
ANSWER: (2x + 3y + 1)(2x – 3y + 1)
[(2x +1)2 – 9y2 = (2x + 3y + 1)(2x – 3y + 1)]
3 9x2 – 6x + 1 – 25y2
ANSWER: (3x + 5y – 1)(3x – 5y – 1)
[(3x – 1)2 – 25y2 = (3x + 5y – 1)(3x – 5y – 1)]
NSMQ 2021
CONTEST 1R1A
1 x3 + 3x2 – 4x – 12
ANSWER: (x + 2)(x – 2)(x + 3)
[x2(x + 3) – 4(x + 3) = (x2 – 4)(x + 3) = (x + 2)(x –
2)(x + 3)]
2 2x3 – x2 – 18x + 9
ANSWER: (2x – 1)(x – 3)(x + 3)
[x2(2x – 1) – 9(2x – 1) = (2x – 1)(x2 – 9) = (2x – 1)(x
– 3)(x + 3)]
3 3x3 + 2x2 – 48x – 32
ANSWER: (3x + 2)(x – 4)(x + 4)
[ x2(3x + 2) – 16(3x + 2) = (3x + 2)(x2 – 16) = (3x
+ 2)(x – 4)(x + 4)]
CONTEST 8 R2
1 Factorise the expression (x – y + 1)2 – (x + y – 2)2
ANSWER: (2x – 1)(3 – 2y)
[(x – y + 1 + x + y – 2)(x – y + 1 – x – y + 2) = (2x
– 1)(3 – 2y)]
CONTEST 19 R1B
1 36x4 + 12x2 + 1
ANSWER: (6x2 + 1)2
[(6x2)2 + 2(6x2) + 1 = (6x2 + 1)2]
2 x4 – 8x2 + 16
ANSWER: (x – 2)2(x + 2)2
[(x2)2 – 2(x2)4 + 16 = (x2 – 4)2 = (x – 2)2(x + 2)2]
3 4x4 + 20x2y + 25y2
ANSWER: (2x2 + 5y)2
[(2x2)2 + 2(2x2)(5y) + (5y)2 = (2x2 + 5y)2]
NATIONAL CONTEST 1 ROUND 2
1 Factorize completely a4 + 4a3b + 6a2b2 + 4ab3 +
b4
ANSWER: (a + b)4
NATIONAL CONTEST 13 ROUND 1A
1 8x3 + 64
ANSWER: 8(x + 2)(x2 – 2x + 4)
[8(x3 + 8) = 8(x + 2)(x2 – 2x + 4)]
2 250x3 – 54y3
ANSWER: 2(5x – 3y)(25x2 + 15xy + 9y2)
[2(125x3 – 27y3) = 2((5x)3 – (3y)3) = 2(5x – 3y)(25x2
+ 15xy + 9y2)]
3 64x3 + 27y3
ANSWER: (4x + 3y)(16x2 - 12xy + 9y2)
[(4x)3 + (3y)3 = (4x + 3y)(16x2 - 12xy + 9y2)]
Pre C 1 ROUND 1A
Solve the equation for real values of x
1 x4
– 13x2 + 36 = 0
ANSWER: x = ± 2, ± 3
[(x2 – 4)(x2 – 9) = 0, x = ± 2, ± 3]
2 x4 – 12x2 + 32 = 0
ANSWER: x = ± 2, ± 2√2
[(x2 – 4)(x2 – 8) = 0, x = ± 2, ± 2√2]
3 x4
- 5x2 – 36 = 0
ANSWER: x = ± 3
[(x2 – 9)(x2 + 4) = 0, x = ± 3, x2 + 4 = 0 has no
real solution]
2 Factorize
completely x3 – 2x2 + 1
ANSWER: (x – 1)(x2 – x - 1)
[x3 – 2x2 + 1 = (x – 1)(x2 + ax - 1), -2 = -1 + a, a =
-1, (x – 1)(x2 – x - 1)]
1 f(x)= x3 – 8x + 7 ANSWER: (x – 1)(x2 + x -
7) [f(1) = 0, (x – 1) is a factor, x3 – 8x + 7 = (x –
1)(x2 + ax - 7), for x2 term, 0 = a – 1, a = 1, (x –
1)(x2 + x - 7)]
2 f(x)= 2x3 + 5x + 7 ANSWER: (x + 1)(2x2 – 2x
+ 7)
[f(-1) = 0, (x + 1) is a factor, (2x3 + 5x +
7) = (x + 1)(2x2 + ax + 7), for x2 term, 0
= 2 + a, a = -2, (x + 1)(2x2 – 2x + 7)]
3 f(x) = x3 - 5x2 + 6 ANSWER: (x + 1)(x2 – 6x +
6)
[f(-1) = 0, (x + 1) is a factor, x3 – 5x2 +
6 = (x + 1)(x2 + ax + 6), for x2 term, -
5 = 1 + a, a = -6, (x + 1)(x2 – 6x + 6)]
4 f(x)= x3 – 8x + 7 ANSWER: (x – 1)(x2 + x -
7) [f(1) = 0, (x – 1) is a factor, x3 – 8x + 7 = (x –
1)(x2 + ax - 7), for x2 term, 0 = a – 1, a = 1, (x –
1)(x2 + x - 7)]
f(x) = 2x3 + 5x + 7 ANSWER: (x + 1)(2x2 – 2x
+ 7)
[f(-1) = 0, (x + 1) is a factor, (2x3 + 5x +
7) = (x + 1)(2x2 + ax + 7), for x2 term, 0
= 2 + a, a = -2, (x + 1)(2x2 – 2x + 7)]
f(x) = x3 – 8x + 7 ANSWER: (x – 1)(x2 + x -
7) [f(1) = 0, (x – 1) is a factor, x3 – 8x + 7 = (x –
1)(x2 + ax - 7), for x2 term, 0 = a – 1, a = 1, (x –
1)(x2 + x - 7)]
f(x) = 2x3 + 5x + 7 ANSWER: (x + 1)(2x2 – 2x
+ 7)
[f(-1) = 0, (x + 1) is a factor, (2x3 + 5x +
7) = (x + 1)(2x2 + ax + 7), for x2 term, 0
= 2 + a, a = -2, (x + 1)(2x2 – 2x + 7)]
NSMQ 2023
PRC 4 R2
f(x) = x3 - 5x2 + 6 ANSWER: (x + 1)(x2 – 6x +
6)
[f(-1) = 0, (x + 1) is a factor, x3 – 5x2 +
6 = (x + 1)(x2 + ax + 6), for x2 term, -
5 = 1 + a, a = -6, (x + 1)(x2 – 6x + 6)]
PRC 20 ROUND 1A
Factorize completely
1 x3 – 5x2 + 2x – 10 ANSWER: (x – 5)(x2 +
2)
[x2(x – 5) + 2(x – 5) = (x – 5)(x2 + 2) ]
2 2x3 – 3x2 + 8x – 12 ANSWER: (2x – 3)(x2
+ 4)
[x2(2x – 3) + 4(2x – 3) = (2x – 3)(x2 + 4) ]
3 5x3 – 3x2 + 15x – 9 ANSWER: (5x – 3)(x2
+ 3)
[x2(5x – 3) + 3(5x – 3) = (5x – 3)(x2 + 3)]
4 3x3 – 2x2 + 9x – 6 ANSWER: (3x – 2)(x2
+ 3)
[x2(3x – 2) + 3(3x – 2) = (3x – 2)(x2 + 3)]
5 4x3 + 3x2 + 12x + 9 ANSWER: (x2 + 3)(4x
+ 3)
[x2(4x + 3) + 3(4x + 3) = (x2 + 3)(4x + 3)]
PRC 40 R2
2 Factorize f(x) = x3 – 8x - 7
ANSWER: (x + 1)(x2 – x – 7)
[f(-1) = -1 + 8 – 7 = 0, (x + 1) a factor, x3 – 8x – 7
= (x + 1)(x2 + ax – 7), for x, a – 7 = - 8,
a = -1, (x + 1)(x2 – x – 7)]
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 23
Factorize the cubic polynomial completely,
1 f(x) = 2x3 + 7x2 – 5x – 4 ANSWER: f(x) =
(x – 1)(x + 4)(2x + 1)
[f(1) = 2 + 7 - 5 – 4 = 0, f(x) = (x – 1)(2x2 + ax +
4), for x2, 7 = -2 + a, a = 9
(2x2 + 9x + 4) = (2x + 1)(x + 4), f(x) = (x – 1)(x +
4)(2x + 1)]
2 f(x) = x3 – x2 – x – 2 ANSWER: f(x) =
(x – 2)(x + x + 1)
2
[f(2) = 8 – 4 – 2 – 2 = 0, f(x) = (x – 2)(x2 + ax + 1),
for x2, -2 + a = -1, a = 1
(x2 + x + 1), f(x) = (x – 2)(x2 + x + 1)]
3 f(x) = x3 - 7x2 + 7x +15 ANSWER: f(x) = (x
+ 1)(x – 3)(x – 5)
[f(-1)= -1 – 7 – 7 + 15 = 0, f(x) = (x + 1)(x2 + ax +
15), for x2, -7 = 1 + a,
a = -8, (x2 – 8x + 15) = (x – 3)(x – 5), f(x) = (x + 1)
(x – 3)(x – 5) ]
4 f(x) = x3 + 2x2 – x - 2 ANSWER: (x – 1)
(x + 1)(x + 2)
[x2(x + 2) – 1(x + 2) = (x2 – 1)(x + 2) = (x – 1)(x +
1)(x + 2)]
RC 32 ROUND 1A
Factorise completely
1…(2x + y – 2)2 – (x – 2y + 2)2 ANSWER: (3x -
y)(x + 3y - 4)
[(3x - y)(x + 3y - 4)]
2 (x + 2y + 5)2 – (2x + y – 5)2 ANSWER: 3(x +
y)(y – x + 10)
[(3x + 3y)(y – x + 10) = 3(x + y)(y – x + 10)]
3 (3x – 2y + 3)2 – (2x – 3y – 3)2 ANSWER: 5(x – y)
(x + y + 6)
[(5x – 5y)(x + y + 6) = 5(x – y)(x + y + 6)]
4 (5x – 4y – 6)2 – (4x + 5y + 6)2 ANSWER: (9x +
y)(x - 9y – 12)
[(9x + y)(x - 9y – 12)] (NB: a2 – b2 = (a + b)(a –
b)
RC 36 ROUND 2
3 Factorize completely 8x3 + 27y3
ANSWER: (2x + 3y)(4x2 – 6xy + 9y2)
[(2x)3 + (3y)3 = (2x + 3y)(4x2 - 6xy + 9y2)]
NSMQ 2019
Factorise completely. Assume n is a natural
number.
1 92n – 9n
ANSWER: 32n(3n – 1)(3n + 1)
[ 9n(9n – 1) = 32n(32n – 1) = 32n(3n – 1)(3n + 1)]
2 8n – 4n
ANSWER: 22n(2n - 1)
[4n(2n- 1) = 22n(2n – 1)]
3 81n – 27n
ANSWER: 33n(3n – 1)
[ 34n – 33n = 33n(3n – 1)]
CONTEST 16 ROUND 1B
1. x3 + 6x2 + 12x + 8
ANSWER: (x + 2)3
[x3 + 3(x2)2 + 3(x)22 + 23 = (x + 2)3]
2. x3 – 9x2 + 27x – 27
ANSWER: (x – 3)3
[x3 – 3(x2)3 + 3(x)32 – 33 = (x – 3)3]
3. 8x3 + 36x2 + 54x + 27
ANSWER: (2x + 3)3
[ (2x)3 + 3(2x)23 + 3(2x)32 + 33= (2x + 3)3]
ROUND 1A
Factorise the trinomial into a product of binomials.
1 5x2 + 4xy – 12y2
ANSWER: (5x – 6y)(x + 2y)
[5x2 + 10xy – 6xy – 12y2 = 5x(x + 2y) – 6y(x + 2y)
= (5x – 6y)(x + 2y)]
2 8x2 + 14xy + 3y2
ANSWER: (4x + y)(2x CONTEST 28+ 3y)
[8x2 + 12xy + 2xy + 3y2 = 4x(2x + 3y) + y(2x +
3y) = (4x + y)(2x + 3y)]
SPEED
3 Factorise the expression 3x2 + 2x - 5
ANSWER: (3x + 5)(x – 1)
[ 3x2 + 5x - 3x – 5 = x(3x + 5) - 1(3x + 5) = (3x +
5 )(x – 1)]