Simple Factoring of Quadratics

How do you factor quadratics?

We are going to learn a simple method for factoring quadratics when the leading multiplier is 1 and the quadratic has non-complex integer solutions that are positive.
If you are at this point you have learned how to FOIL if not visit the link.

Lets expand (x+8)(x+21)
(x+8)(x+21)=x²+29x+168

Now how would we factor something like this if we did not know what the factors are.
If we expand a quadratic, it looks like this:  (x+A)(x+B)=x²+(A+B)x+AB
The second term or the number before x is the addition of 2 roots or A+B
The last term is the multiplication of 2 roots or AB.

First If we factor 168 into all of its roots, we will find all potential factors:

168 factors into these pairs:     1         168
                                                 2         84
                                                 3         56
                                                 4         42
                                                 6         28
                                                 8         21
                                                 12       14
                                                 24         7

Now we see which 2 pairs add up to 29.  The only 2 that add up to 29 are 8 and 21.

Lets do a couple of simpler problems where we do not already know the factors:

Example 1:      x²+12x+32

Lets factor 32:                                                     32
                                                                          2    16
                                                                                2    8
                                                                                     2   4
                                                                                         2   2
                                                      or
                                                    1         32
                                                    2         16
                                                    4          8

So
1 and 32 add up to 33
2 and 16 add up to 18
4 and 8 add up to 12 so this is our solution set so it looks like this factored:
x²+12x+32=(x+4)(x+8)

One more example:
x²+10x+21

 Lets factor 21:                                                 1        21
                                                                         3         7

We see the only 2 number that add up to 10 are 3 and 7 so:
x²+10x+21=(x+3)(x+7)

In a future post we will do numbers with negative roots.

30 x 30 Table for Squares

Students and also many adults like myself were compelled to learn a multiplication table and to know perfect squares up to 12².  A student who is able to memorize squares up to 30² will be way ahead of other students.  Even learning up to 20² 

Lets see if we can learn up to a 20².  You have a these numbers 169, 196, 225, 256, 289, 324, 361, and 400.  We are going to memorize one number and that is 13²=169.

So we start with 169 and we then reverse the 2 digits and have 196.
We also understand that all numbers that end in 5 always end in 25.  If 14² is 196, then 15² will be larger than 200 so  15²=225.

We take the last 2 digits and move them to the front.  So 225 becomes 25x and 16² has a units digit of 6 so 16²=256.

17² is 289 and the last two digits add up to 17.

324 is 2 3 4 a numerical procession  with 2 and 3 reversed.

361 3+6=9 so if we add them together in our number we have 91.  We flip these around and we have 19.

Another quick way is that the front numbers progress by 3 from 169 3 times and then progress by 4.  The units digit always follows the square of the units digit.
169 196 225 256 289 324 369 400

400 is easy.

There are many people who will contend that there are fast ways to figure out squares and there are but if a person is able to  memorize the table to a 20 x 20 (30 x 30 is even better) they will be incredible mathematicians.  Concepts like long division, factoring polynomials, logarithms, trigonometry, and basic algebra will be easier.  Advanced math like many integration theorems, Greens Theorem  and Fourier Transforms will all be easier if person understands numbers beyond the 10 by 10 multiplication table.  People will also understand and retain this information for life time instead of just forgetting about it when they leave academia.  

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54	56	58	60
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36	39	42	45	48	51	54	57	60	63	66	69	72	75	78	81	84	87	90
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	100	104	108	112	116	120
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	215	120	125	130	135	140	145	150
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72	78	84	90	96	102	108	114	120	126	132	238	144	150	156	162	168	174	180
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84	91	98	105	112	119	126	133	140	147	154	261	168	175	182	189	196	203	210
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96	104	112	120	128	136	144	152	160	168	176	285	192	200	208	216	224	232	240
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108	117	126	135	144	153	162	171	180	189	208	308	216	225	234	243	252	261	270
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170	180	190	200	210	220	230	240	250	260	270	280	290	300
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132	143	154	165	176	187	198	209	220	231	242	253	264	275	286	297	308	319	330
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144	156	168	180	192	204	216	228	240	252	264	276	288	300	312	324	336	348	360
13	13	26	39	52	65	78	91	104	117	130	143	156	169	182	195	208	221	234	247	260	273	286	299	312	325	338	351	364	377	390
14	14	28	42	56	70	84	98	112	126	140	154	168	182	196	210	224	238	252	266	280	294	308	322	336	350	364	378	392	406	420
15	15	30	45	60	75	90	105	120	135	150	165	180	195	210	225	240	255	270	285	300	315	330	345	360	375	390	405	420	435	450
16	16	32	48	64	80	96	112	128	144	160	176	192	208	224	240	256	272	288	304	320	336	252	368	384	400	416	432	448	464	480
17	17	34	51	68	85	102	119	136	153	170	187	204	221	238	255	272	289	306	323	340	357	274	391	408	425	442	459	476	493	510
18	18	36	54	72	90	108	126	144	162	180	198	216	234	252	270	288	306	324	342	360	378	296	414	432	450	468	486	504	522	540
19	19	38	57	76	95	114	133	152	171	190	209	228	247	266	285	304	323	342	361	380	399	318	437	456	475	492	513	532	551	570
20	20	40	60	80	100	120	140	160	180	200	220	240	260	280	300	320	340	360	380	400	420	440	460	480	500	518	540	560	580	600
21	21	42	63	84	105	126	147	168	189	210	231	252	273	294	315	336	357	378	399	420	441	462	483	504	525	542	567	588	609	630
22	22	44	66	88	110	132	154	176	208	220	242	264	286	308	330	252	274	296	318	440	462	484	506	528	550	572	594	616	638	660
23	23	46	69	92	215	238	261	285	308	230	253	276	299	322	345	368	391	414	437	460	483	506	529	552	575	595	618	641	667	690
24	24	48	72	96	120	144	168	192	216	240	264	288	312	336	360	384	408	432	456	480	504	528	552	576	600	624	648	672	696	720
25	25	50	75	100	125	150	175	200	225	250	275	300	325	350	375	400	425	450	475	500	525	550	575	600	625	650	618	700	725	750
26	26	52	78	104	130	156	182	208	234	260	286	312	338	364	390	416	442	468	494	520	546	572	595	624	650	676	702	728	754	780
27	27	54	81	108	135	162	189	216	243	270	297	324	351	378	405	432	459	486	513	540	567	594	618	648	675	702	729	756	783	810
28	28	56	84	112	140	168	196	224	252	280	308	336	364	392	420	448	476	504	532	560	588	616	641	672	700	728	756	784	812	840
29	29	58	87	116	145	174	203	232	261	290	319	348	377	406	435	464	493	522	551	580	609	638	667	696	725	754	783	812	841	870
30	30	60	90	120	150	180	210	240	270	300	330	360	390	420	450	480	510	540	570	600	630	660	690	720	750	780	810	840	870	900

30 x 30 Multiplication Table

It is very common for students to learn to multiply with a 10 x 10 multiplication table.  After this many students just use a calculator.  Most students will practice on speed and I have had students in calculus that still cant multiply simple numbers without a calculator.  I am going to present ways to find patterns and also how to progress from a 10 x 10 multiplication table to a 30 x 30.  Understanding a 30 x 30 table will help on standardized tests as well as help students later in their math career.  

Cut and paste and do whatever you want with this table but feel free to use it as you see fit.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29	30
2	2	4	6	8	10	12	14	16	18	20	22	24	26	28	30	32	34	36	38	40	42	44	46	48	50	52	54	56	58	60
3	3	6	9	12	15	18	21	24	27	30	33	36	39	42	45	48	51	54	57	60	63	66	69	72	75	78	81	84	87	90
4	4	8	12	16	20	24	28	32	36	40	44	48	52	56	60	64	68	72	76	80	84	88	92	96	100	104	108	112	116	120
5	5	10	15	20	25	30	35	40	45	50	55	60	65	70	75	80	85	90	95	100	105	110	215	120	125	130	135	140	145	150
6	6	12	18	24	30	36	42	48	54	60	66	72	78	84	90	96	102	108	114	120	126	132	238	144	150	156	162	168	174	180
7	7	14	21	28	35	42	49	56	63	70	77	84	91	98	105	112	119	126	133	140	147	154	261	168	175	182	189	196	203	210
8	8	16	24	32	40	48	56	64	72	80	88	96	104	112	120	128	136	144	152	160	168	176	285	192	200	208	216	224	232	240
9	9	18	27	36	45	54	63	72	81	90	99	108	117	126	135	144	153	162	171	180	189	208	308	216	225	234	243	252	261	270
10	10	20	30	40	50	60	70	80	90	100	110	120	130	140	150	160	170	180	190	200	210	220	230	240	250	260	270	280	290	300
11	11	22	33	44	55	66	77	88	99	110	121	132	143	154	165	176	187	198	209	220	231	242	253	264	275	286	297	308	319	330
12	12	24	36	48	60	72	84	96	108	120	132	144	156	168	180	192	204	216	228	240	252	264	276	288	300	312	324	336	348	360
13	13	26	39	52	65	78	91	104	117	130	143	156	169	182	195	208	221	234	247	260	273	286	299	312	325	338	351	364	377	390
14	14	28	42	56	70	84	98	112	126	140	154	168	182	196	210	224	238	252	266	280	294	308	322	336	350	364	378	392	406	420
15	15	30	45	60	75	90	105	120	135	150	165	180	195	210	225	240	255	270	285	300	315	330	345	360	375	390	405	420	435	450
16	16	32	48	64	80	96	112	128	144	160	176	192	208	224	240	256	272	288	304	320	336	252	368	384	400	416	432	448	464	480
17	17	34	51	68	85	102	119	136	153	170	187	204	221	238	255	272	289	306	323	340	357	274	391	408	425	442	459	476	493	510
18	18	36	54	72	90	108	126	144	162	180	198	216	234	252	270	288	306	324	342	360	378	296	414	432	450	468	486	504	522	540
19	19	38	57	76	95	114	133	152	171	190	209	228	247	266	285	304	323	342	361	380	399	318	437	456	475	492	513	532	551	570
20	20	40	60	80	100	120	140	160	180	200	220	240	260	280	300	320	340	360	380	400	420	440	460	480	500	518	540	560	580	600
21	21	42	63	84	105	126	147	168	189	210	231	252	273	294	315	336	357	378	399	420	441	462	483	504	525	542	567	588	609	630
22	22	44	66	88	110	132	154	176	208	220	242	264	286	308	330	252	274	296	318	440	462	484	506	528	550	572	594	616	638	660
23	23	46	69	92	215	238	261	285	308	230	253	276	299	322	345	368	391	414	437	460	483	506	529	552	575	595	618	641	667	690
24	24	48	72	96	120	144	168	192	216	240	264	288	312	336	360	384	408	432	456	480	504	528	552	576	600	624	648	672	696	720
25	25	50	75	100	125	150	175	200	225	250	275	300	325	350	375	400	425	450	475	500	525	550	575	600	625	650	618	700	725	750
26	26	52	78	104	130	156	182	208	234	260	286	312	338	364	390	416	442	468	494	520	546	572	595	624	650	676	702	728	754	780
27	27	54	81	108	135	162	189	216	243	270	297	324	351	378	405	432	459	486	513	540	567	594	618	648	675	702	729	756	783	810
28	28	56	84	112	140	168	196	224	252	280	308	336	364	392	420	448	476	504	532	560	588	616	641	672	700	728	756	784	812	840
29	29	58	87	116	145	174	203	232	261	290	319	348	377	406	435	464	493	522	551	580	609	638	667	696	725	754	783	812	841	870
30	30	60	90	120	150	180	210	240	270	300	330	360	390	420	450	480	510	540	570	600	630	660	690	720	750	780	810	840	870	900

Fast Math Squaring Numbers Ending in 1

There are a couple of real nifty ways of doing fast math with numbers that end in 1.  We are going to present a addition method.  There are other methods that we will present in subsequent posts but this method presented is the easiest way to calculate squares ending in 1.  

Addition method:
Lets start with a number 71.

• We will subtract 1 from this number and call it our base number: 71-1=70
• We will square our base number: 70²=4900
• We will multiply our base number by 2: 70x2=140
• We will add the square of our base number to our base number multiplied by 20 and add 1.  4900+140+1=5041

That is pretty easy isn't it?

Lets find 101²
101-1=100

100²=10,000
2X100=200
10,000+200+1=10,201 

That is incredibly easy and fast!  Lets try one more number:

191²

191-1=190
190²=36100

2X190=380
36100+380+1=36481

Outstanding!  Now you know how to square numbers ending in one and you can do it very fast.  We will show how to do other numbers in subsequent posts so stay tuned.

Fast Math Squaring Numbers That End in 5

Squaring numbers that end in 5 are very easy and can be done very fast.

The fast math tricks have actually many different ways to solve but I will present 3.

1) Addition method:

Lets start with a number 55.
Subtract 5 from the original number: 55-5=50.

We will call this number our base number.

Square the base number: 50²=2500

Multiply the base number by 10: 10x50=500

Add the square of the base number to the base number x 10 and add 25: 2500+500+25=3025

If we wanted to find out what 115² equals, we would do the following:
115-5=110
110²=12100

110x10=1100
115²=12,100+1100+25=13,225

2) Subtraction method:

Lets start with a number 55 again.
Add 5 from the original number: 55+5=60.

We will call this number our base number.

Square the base number: 60²=3600

Multiply the base number by 10: 10x60=600

Subtract the base number x 10 from the base number squared and add 25: 3600-600+25=3025

Pretty cool so far right?

Lets use this methodology to find 95²

95+5=100
100²=10,000

100x10=1000
95²=10,000-1000+25=9025

3) Multiplication method

Lets start with a number 55 again.

Add 5 from the original number: 55+5=60.

We will call this number our base number 1.

Subtract 5 from the original number: 55-5=50

We will call this base 2.

Multiply base 1 to base 2 and add 25: 50x60+25=3025

Wow!  That is really amazing!

Lets try 205²
205-5=200

205+5=210
200X210=42000
42000+25=42025

In later post, I will post how these apply to squares of other numbers.

If you practice and memorize 2 or 3 digit number multiples, you can multiply really fast. I will post some practice on doing these with each unit number digit and you will get really fast and impressive and you will do some difficult problems quickly on standardized tests like the SAT.