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Factoring with Distributive Law Guide

This document discusses factorizing algebraic expressions using the distributive law. It defines key terms like algebraic expressions, terms, factors, and the distributive law. It explains that the distributive law can be used to remove brackets from expressions by multiplying the term outside brackets by each term inside. The steps to factorize using the distributive law are given as: 1) find the highest common factor of coefficients, 2) rewrite each term with this factor, 3) use the reverse distributive law to factorize, 4) check the factors. Examples are provided, such as factorizing 6x + 6y as 6(x + y) and 144x + 12 as 12(12x + 1).

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64 views15 pages

Factoring with Distributive Law Guide

This document discusses factorizing algebraic expressions using the distributive law. It defines key terms like algebraic expressions, terms, factors, and the distributive law. It explains that the distributive law can be used to remove brackets from expressions by multiplying the term outside brackets by each term inside. The steps to factorize using the distributive law are given as: 1) find the highest common factor of coefficients, 2) rewrite each term with this factor, 3) use the reverse distributive law to factorize, 4) check the factors. Examples are provided, such as factorizing 6x + 6y as 6(x + y) and 144x + 12 as 12(12x + 1).

Uploaded by

vivabelice
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Topic: Algebra

Sub-topic: Factorizing
using Distributive Law
Introduction

Instruction: Removing the brackets using the distributive law in


each of the following:

1. 3(a + b)

2. -7(i + j)
Defi ning Algebraic Expression

A collection of letters (called variables) and numbers (called constant) combined


using the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.

Examples of algebraic expressions:

4x + 2, 7s -8s, 5x + 3y
Defi ning a Term

A term is either a single number or a variable, or numbers and variables


multiplied together.

An expression is a group of terms.


Distributive Law

The distributive law can be applied both to insert and remove brackets in algebraic
expression. The Distributive property states that:

(a + b) x = ax + bx.

Multiply the term outside the brackets by Every term inside the brackets.

This is called expanding the expression. Expanding a product has the effect of removing
brackets.
Factor

A factor of a number is a whole number that divides it exactly, leaving a


remainder of zero.

E.g. 1, 2, 5 and 10 are factors of 10.


Common Factor

Common factor is a number that divides two or more


numbers with a remainder zero.

E.g. Factors of 12 and 6


Factors of 12:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12
Factors of 16: 1, 2, 4, 8,16

1, 2, 4 are common factors


Highest Common Factor (HCF)

The highest common factor or greatest common factor of two or more


numbers is the largest factor by which you can divide both numbers.

4 is the greatest common factor of 16 and 20.


Factorization

Factoring or Factorization means to write a number or expression as a


product of their factors.

Factoring can also be considered as “reversing” the Distributive law.


Factorizing using the Distributive Law

Given
ax + ay
[Note: a is common to both terms]

Hence, by the distributive law: a x + a y = a ( x + y)

where a and x + y are factors of a x + a y .


Steps to Factorizing using Distributive
Law

Step 1: Find the Highest common factor of all the coefficients of the
algebraic expression.

Step 2: Rewrite each term as a product using the common factor.

Step 3: Use the “reverse” Distributive Law to factor the expression.

Step 4. Check by multiplying the factors


Example

Factorize each of the following algebraic expressions:

1. 6x + 6y

2. 144x + 12

3. 25x - 10
Solutions
Using the four steps of factorizing using Distributive Property,

Step #1: Find the HCF of the Coeffi cient.

6y + 6x, the HCF is 6.

Step # 2: Rewrite each term as a product using the common factor.

6 x y + 6 x x

Step # 3: Use the “reverse” Distributive Law to factor the expression.

6 x y + 6 x x

Factor out the 6 as common factor

6(y + x)

Step # 4:Check by multiplying the factors

6 (y + x) = 6y + 6x
Solution # 2

U s i n g t h e f o u r s t e p s o f f a c t o r i z i n g u s i n g D i s t r i b u t i v e P r o p e r t y,

S t e p # 1 : F i n d t h e H C F o f t h e C o e ffi c i e n t .

144x + 12, the HCF is 12.

S t e p # 2 : R e w r i t e e a c h t e r m a s a p r o d u c t u s i n g t h e c o m m o n f a c t o r.

12 x 12 x + 12 x 1

Step # 3: Use the “reverse” Distributive Law to factor the expression.

12 x 12 x + 12 x 1

Fa c t o r o u t t h e 1 2 a s c o m m o n f a c t o r

12(12x + 1)

Step # 4: Check by multiplying the factors

12(12x + 1) = 144x + 12
Practice Problems

Instructions: Factorize the following algebraic expression using


Distributive Law on Page 243 Exercise 6g. Do # 1 to 20.

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