Factorising Complex

Expressions
Amanda Austin
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@DrFrostMaths

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Teacher Notes
Prerequisite Representations
Knowledge Used Future Links
• Factorise by “taking • Grid method • Solving quadratics
out” common • Algebraic by factorisation
factors representation • Graphs of quadratic
• Factorise monic and functions
non-monic quadratic • Polynomial division
expressions, • Factorising cubic
including by expressions
splitting the middle
term
• Factorise by “taking
out” a common
bracketed factor
• Factorise the
difference of two
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Skills in this Lesson
363 Factorising the difference of two squares
363d Factorise the difference of two squares given in the form , where and
have a common numeric factor.
363g Factorise the difference of two squares to evaluate a numerical
calculation.

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Skills in this Lesson
365 Factorising more difficult expressions by combining factorisation
techniques or substitution of a variable
365d Factorise an expression with a common bracket with more general
powers.
365f Factorise an expression in multiple variables without powers by grouping
into pairs of terms.
365g Factorise an expression in multiple variables with powers by grouping into
pairs of terms.
365i Factorise a cubic expression by first taking out a common factor.
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365m Factorise and simplify a difference of two squared binomials in the
charity in England andsame
Wales (no
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Contents
For lessons covering many concepts, please click the below to navigate
quickly to the relevant part of the lesson.

Factorising Overview

The Big Idea : Combining Factorising Techniques

Exercise 1 – Combining Factorising Techniques

The Big Idea : Inspect and Check

The Big Idea : Pairwise Factorisation

The Big Idea : Difference of Two Squared Brackets

The Big Idea : Using the Difference of Two Squares

Exercise 2 – Harder Factorising Techniques

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Factorising Overview
So far, we have met six different techniques for
factorising algebraic expressions:

1 “Taking out” common 2 by considering the

numeric and algebraic sum/product
factors
4 𝑥 −12=4 ( 𝑥 − 3) 2
𝑥 − 𝑥 − 6=( 𝑥 − 3)( 𝑥 +2)

3 by “inspecting and 4 by splitting the middle

checking” term
2 2
2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 +1=(2 𝑥+1)( 𝑥 +1) 3 𝑥 + 13 𝑥 − 10=( 3 𝑥 − 2)( 𝑥+5)

5 Difference of two 6 “Taking out” a common

squares bracketed factor
2
4 𝑥 −9=(2 𝑥 +3)( 2 𝑥 − 3) 2 3
𝑥 (𝑥 +1 ) +( 𝑥 +1 ) =(2 𝑥 +1 )( 𝑥 +1)
Recap : “Taking Out” Common Factors
Factorise fully

We can write each term as a product of

its numerical prime and algebraic
factors

2
18 𝑥 𝑦 =2 ×3 × 3 × 𝑥 × 𝑥 × 𝑦
2
30 𝑥 𝑦 =2 ×3 × 5 × 𝑥 × 𝑦 × 𝑦
We multiply all common factors to find the
HCF
2 ×3 × 𝑥 × 𝑦 =¿6 𝑥𝑦
The remaining factors go inside the
bracket

6 𝑥𝑦
18 𝑥 𝑦 + 30 3 2
𝑥
𝑥 𝑦 𝑦
5=¿ 2
Quickfire Questions
a Factorise fully b Factorise fully

𝟐𝒄(𝟐𝒃−𝟓
? 𝒂) 𝟑 𝒙 (𝟗?𝒙+𝟓 𝒚 )

c Factorise fully d Factorise fully

𝟖𝒄 (𝟑?𝒄+𝟐 𝒅)
𝟐 𝟑 𝟐 ? 𝟐
𝟐𝒆 𝒇 (𝟒𝒆 −𝟕 𝒇 )
Recap : by considering the sum/product
Factorise

We can use a grid to help We need a pair of

us numbers that multiply to
make

𝒚 −𝟏𝟒 and and

and and
𝒚 𝑦 2−14 𝑦 and and
and and
+𝟑 +3 𝑦− 42
They also need to add to
make

𝑦 −11
2
𝑦
− 42¿𝑦−14
() 𝑦+3
()
Quickfire Questions
a Factorise b Factorise

(𝒂+𝟏𝟖)(𝒂+𝟐)
? ? − 𝟑)
(𝒙 +𝟏𝟎)(𝒙

c Factorise d Factorise

(𝒑−𝟗)(𝒑−
? 𝟐) (𝒆− 𝟏𝟔)(𝒆+𝟓)
?
Recap : by “inspecting and checking”
Factorise

We know that to give This gives two options and

we need only one of these options gives

(5 𝑎 )(𝑎) (5 𝑎 −1)(𝑎 − 2)

We need a pair of
numbers that multiply to − 𝑎−10 𝑎=−11 𝑎
make
and
and (5 𝑎 −2)(𝑎 − 1)
We can see from the
middle term that the
numbers need to be
−2 𝑎 −5 𝑎=− 7 𝑎
negative
𝟐
𝟓 𝒂 −𝟕 𝒂+𝟐=(𝟓 𝒂 −𝟐)( 𝒂 −𝟏)
 Recap : by splitting the middle term
Factorise

Find a pair of numbers that We then factorise fully the first two
multiply to give and add to terms and the last two terms
give separately, ensuring they have a
common bracket factor
2
𝑎 × 𝑐=−120 8 𝑥 +20 𝑥 −6 𝑥 − 15
𝑏=+14 4 𝑥( 2 𝑥 − 5)−3 (2 𝑥 −5)
20 and− 6
Finally, we take out the common
bracket factor to leave the remaining
Use these values to split into
factor
and
¿ ( 𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟓 ) (𝟒 𝒙 − 𝟑)
8 𝑥 +14 𝑥−15
2

¿8 𝑥 +20
2
𝑥 − 6 𝑥−15
Quickfire Questions
a Factorise b Factorise

(𝟓 𝒚 +𝟐)(𝒚
? −𝟏) (𝟐𝒒−𝟕)(𝟐𝒒−𝟏)
?

c Factorise d Factorise

(𝟑𝒕 −𝟐)(𝟐𝒕+𝟓)
? (𝟔 𝒙 −𝟏)(𝟐𝒙
? −𝟗)
Recap : Difference of Two Squares

Factorise

We can write this as a squared

term minus another squared
term

2 2
4 𝑎 − 25 𝑏 𝟐 𝒂 +𝟓 𝒃
2 2
¿ (2 𝑎) −( 5 𝑏)
𝟐𝒂 4 𝑎 +10 𝑎𝑏
2

¿ (𝟐 𝒂+ 𝟓 𝒃)(𝟐 𝒂 − 𝟓 𝒃)
−𝟓 𝒃 −10 𝑎𝑏−25 𝑏2
We can see from the grid how
two of the terms sum to zero
Quickfire Questions
a Factorise b Factorise

? − 𝟗)
(𝒄 +𝟗)(𝒄 (𝒙 +𝟐 𝒚 ?)(𝒙 −𝟐 𝒚 )

c Factorise d Factorise

?
(𝒂𝒃+𝟏𝟐)(𝒂𝒃 −𝟏𝟐) ?𝟐 𝟐
(𝟕𝒆+𝒇 )(𝟕𝒆− 𝒇 )
Recap : “Taking out” a common bracketed
factor
Factorise fully

We can “take out” a common bracketed

factor of

¿ ( 𝑎 +𝑏
(𝑎)+𝑏) +(2 𝑎 − 3 𝑏)(𝑎 +𝑏)
2 2

¿(𝑎 +𝑏) 2
( ( 𝑎 +𝑏 )+(2 𝑎 −3 𝑏))
𝟐
¿ (𝒂 +𝒃) (𝟑 𝒂 − 𝟐 𝒃)
Quickfire Questions
a Factorise fully b Factorise fully

(𝒙 +𝒚 )(𝒙
? +𝟐) (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝟐
? 𝒙+𝟑)

c Factorise fully d Factorise fully

𝟐 𝟒
( 𝒄 − 𝒅 ) ?(𝒄 +𝟐𝒅) ?
( 𝟕 −𝒘 ) (𝒘 +𝟖)
The Big Idea : Combining Factorisation
Techniques
Sometimes we might need to combine two of our
factorisation techniques in order to fully factorise an
expression
Factorise fully

This looks like the difference of two

squares, except and are not square
numbers!
However, they do have a common factor of
2 … 2
8 𝑥 − 50 𝑦
¿ 2 4 𝑥 − 25 𝑦 )
( 2 2

¿ 2 ( (2 𝑥) −(5 𝑦 )
2 2
)
¿ 𝟐 ( 𝟐 𝒙+𝟓 𝒚 ) (𝟐 𝒙 −𝟓 𝒚 )
Example Test Your
Understanding
Factorise Factorise

Take out a common factor Take out a common factor

2
? 2 2
¿ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 − 4) ¿ 10 (9 𝑦 − 𝑥 )

Write as difference of two Write as difference of two

squares squares
?
2 2 2 2
¿ 𝑥 (𝑥 −2 ) ¿ 10 (( 3 𝑦 ) − 𝑥 )

𝒙 ( 𝒙 + 𝟐)( 𝒙 −𝟐) 𝟏𝟎 (𝟑 𝒚 + 𝒙)(𝟑

? 𝒚 − 𝒙)
drfrost.org/ 363d
s/
Example Test Your
Understanding
Factorise Factorise

Take out a common factor Take out a common factor

2 2
?
¿ 𝑥 (2 𝑦 +3 𝑦 +1 ) ¿ 𝑦 ( 𝑦 − 8 𝑦 +15)

Factorise the remaining Factorise the remaining

quadratic expression quadratic expression
?
¿ 𝒙 (𝟐 𝒚 +𝟏)( 𝒚 +𝟏) ¿ 𝒚 ( 𝒚 − 𝟓) ( 𝒚 − 𝟑)

drfrost.org/ 365i
s/
Example Test Your
Understanding
Factorise Factorise

Take out a bracketed Take out a bracketed

3
factor ?
factor
2
¿ ( 𝑥 −5 𝑦 ) ( 4 𝑥 +( 𝑥 − 5 𝑦 )) ¿ ( 𝑎 − 4 𝑏 ) ( ( 𝑎 − 4 𝑏 )+ 5 𝑎)

3 2
¿ ( 𝑥 − 5 𝑦 ) (5 𝑥 − 5 𝑦 ) ¿ ( 𝑎 − 4 𝑏 ) ?( 6 𝑎 − 4 𝑏)

Take out a common factor Take out a common factor

from the remaining from the remaining
bracket ?
bracket
𝟑 𝟐
¿𝟓(𝒙 −𝟓𝒚 ) ( 𝒙 −𝒚 ) ¿ 𝟐 ( 𝒂 −𝟒 𝒃 ) (𝟑 𝒂 −𝟐 𝒃)

drfrost.org/ 365d
s/
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Factorise fully: 2 Factorise fully:

5 𝑥 − 80𝟓( 𝒙+𝟒)( 𝒙 −𝟒)

2
a a 2
4 𝑥 + 4 𝑥 − 24 𝟒 (𝒙+𝟑)( 𝒙 −𝟐)
6 − 6 𝑦 𝟔(𝟏 +𝒚 )(𝟏 − 𝒚 )
2
b b 2
𝑥 𝑦 +7 𝑥𝑦 +10 𝑦 𝒚 (𝒙 +𝟓)(𝒙 +𝟐)
c 2
2 00 𝑎 − 18𝟐(𝟏𝟎𝑏𝒂+𝟑𝒃)(𝟏𝟎
2
? 𝒂−𝟑𝒃) c 2
1 0 𝑎 +15 𝑎+5 𝟓(𝟐 𝒂+𝟏)(𝒂+𝟏)
?
𝑥 − 25 𝑥 𝑦 𝒙 ( 𝒙+ 𝟓 𝒚 )( 𝒙 −𝟓 𝒚 )
3 2
d d 3
3 𝑥 +2 𝑥 − 𝑥
2
𝒙 (𝟑 𝒙 −𝟏)(𝒙 +𝟏)
2 8 𝑥 − 63 𝑥𝟕 𝒙 (𝟐 𝒙+𝟑)(𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟑)
3
e 1 2 𝑎𝑏 −16 𝑎𝑏−16 𝑎𝟒 𝒂(𝟑 𝒃+𝟐)(𝒃−
2
e

3 Factorise fully:

a 𝟑( 𝒙+𝟏)(𝒙 +𝟓)
( 𝑥+ 3 ) ( 𝑥 +5 )+ 2 𝑥 ( 𝑥+ 5)
2 3 𝟐
b 3𝑎(𝑎−2𝑏) +(𝑎−2𝑏) 𝟐(𝟐 𝒂 − 𝒃) (𝒂 − 𝟐 𝒃)
𝟑
c ?
( 5 𝑥 −3 ) ( 𝑥 +6 )3 +( 𝑥 +6) 4𝟑(𝟐 𝒙 +𝟏)( 𝒙 +𝟔)
𝟐 𝟐
d 2 2
𝑥 ( 2 𝑥 +1) +(2 𝑥+ 1)
3
( 𝒙 +𝟏) (𝟐 𝒙 +𝟏)
( 𝑥 − 5 𝑦 ) ( 𝑥 − 𝑦 )5 −3 ( 𝑥−𝟐 ) 𝒚 )( 𝒙 − 𝒚 )𝟓
6
e −𝑦( 𝒙+
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 1 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

4 [WJEC GCSE Autumn 2016 H2 𝟑(𝟐 𝒙 +𝟑?𝒚 )(𝟐 𝒙 −𝟑 𝒚 )

Q12b]
Factorise
5 [Edexcel C1 Jan 2006 Q1] ? 𝒙 −𝟏)
𝒙 (𝒙 −𝟑)(
Factorise completely

6 Factorise fully:

a 2
𝑥 𝑦−𝑦 𝒚 ( 𝒙 +𝟏)( 𝒙 − 𝟏)
𝟐
b 4
𝑎 −𝑎 −6𝑎
3 2 𝒂 ( 𝒂 − 𝟑)( 𝒂+𝟐)
5 4 ? 𝟒
c ( 𝑑 −6 𝑐) − 7 𝑑( 𝑑 − 6 𝑐) −𝟔 (𝒅 + 𝒄)(𝒅 −𝟔 𝒄)
d 𝑎𝑥 − 4 𝑎 𝑦
2 2
𝒂(𝒙 +𝟐 𝒚 )( 𝒙 −𝟐 𝒚 )

N Factorise fully:
8 2 4 𝟐 𝟒 𝟒
a 𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑦 𝒚 ( 𝒙 + 𝒚 )( 𝒙 − 𝒚 )
10 9 8 𝟖
b 4 𝑎 −10 𝑎 − 6 𝑎 𝟐 𝒂 (𝟐 𝒂+ ?
𝟏)(𝒂 − 𝟑)
𝟒
c ( 𝑥+ 2 𝑦 ) ( 3 𝑥 − 4 𝑦 )5 + 𝑥 (𝑥+ 2 𝑦 )(3 𝑥 − 4 𝑦) 4𝟒 (𝒙 − 𝒚 )(𝒙 +𝟐 𝒚 )(𝟑 𝒙 −𝟒 𝒚)
The Big Idea : “Inspect and Check”
How might we factorise ?

In a similar way to factorising expressions such as , we can

“inspect” to see what we need to multiply to make the first
and last terms, then “check” the different combinations

𝑥 𝑦 𝑦 We know that to give

we need

𝑥 𝑥 𝑥𝑦 𝑥𝑦2 ¿𝑥( ) 𝑥
()
We know that to give

𝑦 𝑥𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 2 2 we need

¿ ( 𝑥+ 𝑦 )( 𝑥+2 𝑦)
If there are multiple options,
we can then check the 𝑥𝑦 +2 𝑥𝑦=3 𝑥𝑦
middle term to see which is
the correct one
Example
Factorise

We know that to give This gives four options to

we need check

( 𝑥+ 1)( 𝑦 +6 ) 𝑦 + 6 𝑥
( 𝑥 )( 𝑦 )
We need a pair of numbers
( 𝑥+ 6)( 𝑦 +1) 6 𝑦 + 𝑥
that multiply to make and
we can see from the middle
terms they need to be
positive
( 𝑥+ 2)( 𝑦 + 3) 2 𝑦 + 3 𝑥
and
and ( 𝑥+ 3)( 𝑦 + 2) 3 𝑦 +2 𝑥

𝒙𝒚 +𝟑 𝒙 +𝟐 𝒚 + 𝟔=( 𝒙 +𝟐)( 𝒚 +𝟑)

Test Your Understanding
Factorise

We know that to give This gives four options to

we need check

(𝑎 +1)(𝑐 − 𝑏) +𝑐 − 𝑎𝑏
(𝑎 )(𝑐 )
We also need two terms
(𝑎 −𝑏)(𝑐 +1) − 𝑏𝑐 + 𝑎
that multiply to give

and (𝑎 +𝑏)( 𝑐 −1) +𝑏𝑐 − 𝑎

and
(𝑎 −1)(𝑐+ 𝑏) − 𝑐 + 𝑎𝑏

𝒂𝒄 − 𝒃𝒄+ 𝒂 − 𝒃=( 𝒂 − 𝒃)(𝒄 +𝟏)

Quickfire Questions
a Factorise b Factorise

(𝟐 𝒙 − 𝒚)(
? 𝒙+𝟐 𝒚 ) (𝒙 +𝒂)(𝒙+𝒃)
?

c Factorise d Factorise

(𝒂𝒃−𝟏)(𝒂+𝟏)
? (𝒙 − 𝟐)(𝒚
? +𝟐)
The Big Idea : “Pairwise” Factorisation
Factorise

In a similar way to splitting the middle term, we factorise pairs

of terms separately, then look for a common bracketed
factor…

2
𝑥 + 𝑎𝑥 +𝑏𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏
𝑥 (𝑥 +𝑎+𝑏
) ( 𝑥+ 𝑎)

We take out the common bracket factor

to leave the remaining factor

¿ ( 𝒙 + 𝒂 ) ( 𝒙 +𝒃)
Example Test Your
Understanding
Factorise Factorise

2
¿ 𝑥 ( 𝑥 − 2 ) +1( 𝑥 − 2) ¿ 𝑎 ( 𝑏+1 ) ?− 1(𝑏 +1)

𝟐
¿ ( 𝒙 −𝟐)( 𝒙 +𝟏) ¿ (𝒃+ 𝟏)
? (𝒂 − 𝟏)

drfrost.org/ 365f
s/
Example Test Your
Understanding
Factorise Factorise

¿ ( 𝑥+ 𝑦 ) ( 𝑥 − 𝑦 ) + 4 (𝑥 + 𝑦) ¿ ( 𝑎 +𝑏 ) ( 𝑎 − 𝑏
? ) − 3 (𝑎 − 𝑏)

¿ ( 𝒙 + 𝒚 )( 𝒙 − 𝒚 + 𝟒) ¿ (𝒂 − 𝒃)(?𝒂+ 𝒃 −𝟑)

drfrost.org/ 365g
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Method Selection
Which method would you choose for factorising
and why?
a Factorise b Factorise

? − 𝟑)
¿ (𝒙+𝟔)(𝒚 ¿(𝟑 𝒙 −𝟒 𝒚?)(𝟐 𝒙 − 𝟑 𝒚)
Exam Question
AQA IGCSE FM Practice Paper Set 1 P1 Q13

where and are integers

Work out the three linear factors of
[3 marks]

3 2
¿ 𝑥 +2 𝑥 ?−9 𝑥 −18
2
¿ 𝑥 ( 𝑥+ 2 ) − 9( 𝑥 +2)
? 2
¿ ( 𝑥 −9)( 𝑥 +2)
¿ (𝒙+𝟑)( 𝒙
? −𝟑)(𝒙 +𝟐)
The Big Idea : Difference of Two Squared
Brackets
Factorise

We can use the difference of two squares when the squared

terms are brackets. It is more efficient than expanding and
then simplifying.

(2 𝑥+7 ) −( 𝑥 − 2)
2 2

¿ ¿(2 𝑥+7 )+ ¿( 𝑥 − 2)¿ ¿(2 𝑥+7 − ¿

) ( 𝑥 − 2)

¿ (𝟑 𝒙 +𝟓)( 𝒙 +𝟗)
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 365m
s/

Factorise

(5 𝑤 −2) −(2 𝑤 +1)

2 2

¿ ¿(5 𝑤 −2)+ ¿(2 𝑤+1)¿ ¿(5 𝑤 −2)−(2 𝑤 +1)

¿
¿ (7 𝑤 −1)(3 𝑤 −3)

¿ 𝟑( 𝟕 𝒘 − 𝟏) (𝒘 −𝟏)
 Example Test Your
Understanding
Factorise Factorise

? 𝑥+ 2 𝑦 − 𝑥 − 𝑦)
¿ (2 𝑥 + 𝑦 + 𝑥+2 𝑦)( 2 𝑥 + 𝑦 − 𝑥 − 2 𝑦¿)(3 𝑥+ 2 𝑦 + 𝑥+ 𝑦 )(3

¿ (3 𝑥+ 3 𝑦 )( 𝑥 − 𝑦)

¿ 𝟑( 𝒙 + 𝒚 )( 𝒙 − 𝒚 ) ¿ (𝟒 𝒙+ 𝟑 𝒚?)(𝟐 𝒙 + 𝒚 )

drfrost.org/ 365m
s/
The Big Idea : Using the Difference of Two
Squares
We can use the difference of two squares to
evaluate a numerical expression:

(a) Factorise (b) Hence evaluate

2 2
𝑥 −5 By comparing with we can see that
we should use
¿ ( 𝒙 + 𝟓)( 𝒙 −𝟓)
2 2
75 − 5
¿ (75+5)(75 − 5)
This is useful
for turning
tricky
¿ 80 × 70
mental
calculations
¿ 𝟓𝟔𝟎𝟎
into easier
Dr Frost ones!
The Big Idea : Using the Difference of Two
Squares
We can use this principle to help is with finding
the difference between any two square numbers
easily:
(a) Factorise (b) Hence evaluate

2 2 By comparing with we can see that this

𝑎 −𝑏 is also a difference of two squares with
¿ (𝒂 +𝒃)( 𝒂 − 𝒃) and

2 2
This is the 1000 − 999
general
form of the ¿ (1000+ 999)( 1000 −999)
difference
of two ¿ 1999 ×1
squares.
¿ 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟗
Mrs Clark
Test Your Understanding drfrost.org/ 363g
s/

Use the difference of two Use the difference of two

squares to calculate squares to calculate

2 2 2 2
83 − 17 189 − 89
¿ (83+ 17)(83
? − 17) ¿ (189+89)(189
? − 89)
¿ 100 × 66
? ¿ 278 × 100
?
¿ 𝟔𝟔𝟎𝟎 ? ¿ 𝟐𝟕𝟖𝟎𝟎 ?
Exam Question drfrost.org/ 365m
s/

[AQA IGCSE FM Jun2013-P1 Q5a]

(a) Show that simplifies to where and are
constants to be found.
(b) Hence, or otherwise , work out

( 𝑥+ 7) − ( 𝑥 −3 ) =[ ( 𝑥+ 7 ) + ( 𝑥 − 3 ) ] [ ( 𝑥+ 7 ) − ( 𝑥 − 3 ) ]
2 2

¿ (2 𝑥 +4)(10)
?
¿ 10 (2 𝑥 + 4)
¿ 𝟐𝟎 ( 𝒙 + 𝟐)
When
2 ?
2
107 − 97 =20 ( 100+2 )
¿𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟎
Deeper Thinking
Earlier in the lesson, Mrs Clark showed that
using the difference of two squares.
Nathan started to try other questions like this one,
and thinks he has spotted a pattern.
Here are some of his examples:
1000 − 999 ¿ 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟗
2 2

2
100 − 99
2
¿ 𝟏𝟗𝟗 Can you see
2
50 − 49
2
¿ 𝟗𝟗 a pattern?
2
25 − 24
2
¿ 𝟒𝟗
2
34 − 33
2
¿ 𝟔𝟕
If the base of the square
numbers are one apart,
we can just add the Nathan is
bases to give the right.
difference of two Why?
Mrs Clark
squares!
Nathan
Deeper Thinking
Earlier in the lesson, Mrs Clark showed that
using the difference of two squares.
Nathan started to try other questions like this one,
and thinks he has spotted a pattern.
If the base of the square
numbers are one apart, Nathan is
we can just add the right.
bases to give the Why?
difference of two
Nathan
squares! Mrs Clark
Considering the difference of two
squares:
1000
2
− 999 ¿ (1000+ 999)( 1000 −999)¿ 1999 ×1¿ 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟗
2

2
100 − 99
2
¿ (100+ 99)( 100− 99) ¿ 199 × 1 ¿ 𝟏𝟗𝟗
2
50 − 49
2
¿ (50+ 49)(50 − 49) ¿ 99 × 1 ¿ 𝟗𝟗
2
25 − 24
2
¿ (25+ 24)(25 − 24) ¿ 49 ×1 ¿ 𝟒𝟗
The first bracket is always the As the bases are one apart,
bases added together. the second bracket is always
Deeper Thinking
Earlier in the lesson, Mrs Clark showed that
using the difference of two squares.
Nathan started to try other questions like this one,
and thinks he has spotted a pattern.
If the base of the square
numbers are one apart, Can you prove
we can just add the Nathan’s
bases to give the pattern
difference of two algebraically?
Nathan
squares! Mrs Clark
Remember that
If the first number is and the bases are 1 apart, then .
𝑎 − ( 𝑎 − 1) ¿ (𝑎 +( 𝑎 −1))(𝑎 −(𝑎 +1))
2 2

¿ ( 2 𝑎 − 1 ) × (1)
¿2 𝑎− 1
¿ 𝑎 +( 𝑎 − 1 )
¿ 𝒂+ 𝒃
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 2 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

1 Factorise fully: 3 [Edexcel IGCSE May 2015 3H Q9c]

Factorise
a 𝑥𝑦 +𝑥+ 𝑦 +1 ( 𝒙 +𝟏)( 𝒚 +𝟏)
(𝟐𝒑 −𝟑𝒒)(𝟑𝒑+𝟐𝒒)
?
b 𝑎𝑏 −𝑎 −𝑏+1 (𝒂 −𝟏)( 𝒃− 𝟏)
2 2 𝟐
c 𝑥 − 2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦( 𝒙 ?− 𝒚 ) 4 [CCEA GCSE Jan 2015 T4 Higher 3H
Q9c]
d 𝑎𝑏 −2 𝑎+4 𝑏−8 ( 𝒂+𝟒) (𝒃 − 𝟐)
Factorise
𝑦 + 𝑐𝑦 + 𝑑𝑦 +𝑐𝑑 ( 𝒚 + 𝒄 )( 𝒚 + 𝒅)
2
e 𝒂(𝟒 𝒙 −𝟑 ?𝒚 )(𝟐 𝒙 −𝟓 𝒚 )

2 Factorise fully: 5 [Edexcel IGCSE Jan 2014 3H

Q19]
a 𝑎𝑏+𝑏𝑐 −3 𝑎−3 𝑐 ( 𝒂+ 𝒄)(𝒃 −𝟑) Factorise
b 2 2 𝟐
𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥 +2 𝑦 −2 ( 𝒙 + 𝟐) ( 𝒚 − 𝟏) 𝟖(𝟒 𝒙 − 𝒚?)(𝟒 𝒙 +𝒚 )
3 2 𝟐
c 𝑥 + 𝑥 + 𝑥 +1 ( 𝒙 +𝟏)(
? 𝒙 +𝟏)6 Use the difference of two
3 2 𝟐 squares to calculate:
d 𝑥 + 𝑥 − 𝑥 −1 ( 𝒙 − 𝟏)( 𝒙 + 𝟏)
227 − 27 𝟓𝟎𝟖𝟎𝟎
?
2 2
a
2 2 2 𝟐
e 𝑎 𝑥 + 4 𝑎𝑏𝑥 +4 𝑏( 𝒂𝒙 +𝟐 𝒃)
b 2
77 − 23
2
𝟓𝟒𝟎𝟎
?
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 2 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

7 Factorise fully:
3 2 𝟐
a 𝑥 − 2 𝑥 +3 𝑥 −6 ( 𝒙 − 𝟐)( 𝒙 +𝟑)
3 2 2 2 𝟐 𝟐
b 𝑥 +𝑥 +𝑥 𝑦 +𝑦 ( 𝒙 +𝟏)( 𝒙 + 𝒚 )
c 2 2
𝑥 𝑦 − 𝑥 − 𝑦 +1
2 2
( 𝒙 +𝟏 ) (𝒙 − 𝟏)(𝒚
? +𝟏)(𝒚 −𝟏)
2 2
d 2 𝑐 −7 𝑐𝑑 −15 𝑑 (𝒄 − 𝟓 𝒅 )(𝟐 𝒄+𝟑 𝒅)
2 2
e 𝑥 𝑦 +3 𝑦 − 𝑥 − 3 (𝒙 +𝟑)(𝒚 +𝟏)(𝒚 −𝟏)

8 Factorise fully:
4 2 2 4
a 𝑥 −2 𝑥 𝑦 + 𝑦
b 𝑎𝑑+𝑏𝑑+𝑐𝑑+𝑎𝑒+𝑏𝑒+𝑐𝑒 ( 𝒂+ 𝒃+𝒄) (𝒅 +𝒆 )
c 2 2
𝑥 + 𝑦 +2 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑥𝑧 + 𝑦𝑧 (𝒙 +𝒚 +𝒛
? )( 𝒙 + 𝒚 )
d 2
𝑥 − 𝑦 +2 𝑥+1
2 ( 𝒙 + 𝒚 +𝟏 ) ( 𝒙 − 𝒚 +𝟏 )
e 2 2
𝑥 + 𝑦 +2 𝑥𝑦 − 1 (𝒙 +𝒚 +𝟏)(𝒙 +𝒚 −𝟏)
 Show
(Available as a separate
Exercise 2 worksheet)
all
solutio
ns

N Imani is investigating patterns in numerical difference of two squares

problems i.e. where .
a Considering examples where and have a difference of ,
can you spot a pattern? Imani
1000 − 998 ¿ (1000+ 998)(1000 −998)¿ 1998 × 2¿ 𝟑𝟗𝟗𝟔
2 2
For
example: 100 − 98 ¿ (100+ 98)(100 −98)
2 2
¿ 198 × 2 ¿ 𝟑𝟗𝟔
2
50 − 48
2
?
¿ (50+ 48)(50 − 48) ¿ 98 × 2 ¿ 𝟏𝟗𝟔
2
26 − 24
2
¿ (26+ 24)(26 − 24) ¿ 50 × 2 ¿ 𝟏𝟎𝟎
The answer is always double the sum of the
bases.
b Explain why this happens, using the factorised form?
The first bracket is always the sum of & , and the second is
always? 2
as this is the difference.
c Prove this pattern algebraically?
Difference is 2 so
𝒂 −( 𝒂 −𝟐) ¿ (𝒂 +( 𝒂 − 𝟐))( 𝒂 −(𝒂 ?
𝟐 𝟐
+𝟐))
¿ ( 𝟐 𝒂 −𝟐 ) ×( 𝟐)¿ 𝟐( 𝟐 𝒂 −𝟐)¿ 𝟐 [ 𝒂+ ( 𝒂 − 𝟐 ) ]¿ 𝟐( 𝒂+ 𝒃)
d What happens for a difference of between and ? Can you prove it?
The answer is always times the sum of the
𝟐
bases. 𝟐
+( 𝒂 − 𝒙 )) (𝒂 −( 𝒂+ 𝒙 ))
Difference is x so , so 𝒂 −(
?𝒂 − 𝒙 ) ¿¿ (𝒂
( 𝟐 𝒂 − 𝒙 ) ×( 𝒙 ) ¿ 𝒙 (𝟐 𝒂 − 𝒙 )
¿ 𝒙 [ 𝒂 + ( 𝒂− 𝒙 ) ]¿ 𝒙 ( 𝒂+ 𝒃)