Important Formulas: Factorisation | Mathematics (Maths) Class 8 PDF Download

Factorisation of algebraic expression

When we factorise an algebraic expression, we write it as a product of factors. These factors may be numbers, algebraic variables or algebraic expressions
The expression 6x (x - 2). It can be written as a product of factors.
2,3, x and (x - 2)
6x (x - 2).  =2×3× x× (x - 2)
The factors 2,3, x and (x +2) are irreducible factors of 6x (x + 2).

Method of Factorisation

1. Common factor method

Working:
(i) We can look at each of the term in the algebraic expression, factorize each term
(ii) Then find common factors to factorize the expression

Example:
2x+4
=2(x+2)

2. Factorisation by regrouping terms

(i) First we see common factor across all the terms

(ii) we look at grouping the terms and check if we find binomial factor from both the groups.

(iii) Take the common Binomial factor out
Example:
2xy + 3x + 2y + 3
= 2 × x × y + 3 × x + 2 × y + 3
= x × (2y + 3) + 1 × (2y + 3)
= (2y + 3) (x + 1)

3. Factorisation using identities

Use the below identities to factorise it
(a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²

(a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b²

(a + b) (a – b) = a²– b²

4. Factorisation of the form (x+a)(x+b)

Given x²+ px + q, 

(i) we find two factors a and b of q (i.e., the constant term) such that ab = q and a + b = p

(ii) Now expression can be written
x²+ (a + b) x + ab
or x2 + ax + bx + ab
or x(x + a) + b(x + a)
or (x + a) (x + b) which are the required factors.

Example:

x²– 7x+ 12
Now 12 = 3 × 4 and 3 + 4 = 7
=x² – 3x – 4x + 12
= x (x –3) – 4 (x –3) = (x –3) (x – 4)

Division of algebraic expression

Division of algebraic expression is performed by Factorisation of both the numerator and denominator and then cancelling the common factors.

Steps of Division

(i) Identify the Numerator and denominator
(ii) Factorise both the Numerator and denominator by the technique of Factorisation using common factor, regrouping, identities and splitting
(iii) Identify the common factor between numerator and denominator
(iv) Cancel the common factors and finalize the result

Example:
48 (x2yz + xy2z + xyz2) /4xyz
=48xyz (x + y + z)/4xyz
= 4 ×12×xyz (x + y + z) /4xyz
= 12 (x + y + z)

Here Dividend=48 (x2yz + xy2z + xyz2)
Divisor=4xyz
Quotient=12 (x + y + z)

So, we have
Dividend = Divisor × Quotient.
In general, however, the relation is
Dividend = Divisor × Quotient + Remainder
When reminder is not zero