In this weeks discussion, which is our final week, we are learning about factoring.

When we
factor an expression, we write the expression as a product. To describe it another way we are
splitting an expression into a multiplication of simpler expressions. We have been asked to
complete the exercises on pages 345-346, and 353. Using the third letter in my last name, which
is O I am assigned to numbers 72 and 104 on page 346 and number 38 on page 353.
For number 72 I am to factor each polynomial completely using the methods discussed in
Sections 5.1 through 5.3 of our textbook.
-a
3
-100a I will factor out the GCF of -a from the expression -a
3

-a(a
2
)-a(100) Next I factor out the GCF of -a from the expression -100a
-a(a
2
+ 100) I then factor out the GCF of -a from -a
3
100a and arrive at my final
answer
In my next exercise, which is number, 104 I am factoring completely where the GCF has a
variable and further factors to perfect square trinomial.
-4w
3
-16w
2
+20w I factor out the GCF of 4 from the expression -64
-4(-16)-16w
2
+20w Next I factor out the GCF of 4 from the expression 16w
2

4(-16)+4(-4w
2
)+20w I then factor out the GCF of 4 from the expression 20w
4(-16)+4(-4w
2
)+4(5w)Finally I factor out the GCF of 4 from -64, 16w
2
, and 20w
where I arrive at my final answer.
My final exercise uses the ac Method where the leading coefficient only has multiple factors.
On page 353 of our textbook I am assigned number 38.
15x
2
-7x-2 In order to solve by grouping using ac which is (-30) and the
sum is b(-7)
a = 15, b = -7, c =-2 I then rewrite the middle term as a sum of two terms
15(-2)=-30 The sum of this is -7
15x
2
-10x+3x-2 This is my final answer to the ac grouping
((15x
2
-10x)+(3x-2)) The two terms are now grouped together with the second two
terms
(5x(3x-2)+3x-2) The GCF is factored from each group
(5x(3x-2)+3x-2) Both groups are grouped together and both contain the factor (3x-
2)
(5x+1) (3x-2) I arrive at my final answer