Updated August 17, 2004
Created August 17, 2004


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Chan's Method of Factoring

Sign of first entry should be positive; otherwise, factor out a (-1)
Also factor out any common numbers from the entire equation
20x2 + 7xy - 3y2
Drop the 20 to both sets of parenthesis
(20x      )(      )
(20x      )(20x      )
Drop the 1st sign (from the middle entry) to the first parenthesis
(20x +    )(20x      )
Multiply the 1st sign (from the middle entry) by the last sign,
then drop the resulting sign into 2nd set of parenthesis
(20x +    )(20x -    )
Multiply the 1st and 3rd numbers which gives us 60.
Find 2 numbers that multiply together to give 60
and that subtract (based on last sign) to give the
middle entry.
20*3=60
1*60 
2*30 
3*20 
4 * 
5*1212 - 5 = 7
6*10 
7 * 
8 * 
9 * 
Drop the larger number in the first parenthesis
(20x + 12y)(20x -    )
Drop the smaller number in the second parenthesis
(20x + 12y)(20x - 5y)
Since you've already factored out any common factors at
the beginning we just factor out any common numbers out
of each parenthesis set and throw them away.
(20x + 12y)(20x - 5y)
4(5x + 3y)(20x - 5y)
4(5x + 3y)5(4x - y)
(5x + 3y)5(4x - y)
(5x + 3y)(4x - y)

9x2 - 6xy + y2
(9x     )(9x     )
(9x -   )(9x    )
(9x -   )(9x -   )
[- * + = -]
9 * 1 = 9
[1st number multiplied by last number]
What factors of 9 added (last sign) together equal 6 (middle value)
1 * 9 = 9
3 * 3 = 9
[3 + 3 = 6]
(9x - 3y)(9x - 3y)
Larger in 1st parenthesis, smaller in 2nd parenthesis. Now factor and discard
(9x - 3y)(9x - 3y)
3(3x - 1y)(9x - 3y)
(3x - 1y)(9x - 3y)
(3x - 1y)3(3x - 1y)
(3x - 1y)(3x - 1y)
(3x - y)(3x - y)

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