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Factoring - Using Basic Calculator Only

While the basic TI-84+ calculator will not list the factors of an expression, you can still use the calculator to help in factoring algebraic expressions. There are several approaches you may use depending upon the known information.

Answers can be "checked" to see if the correct factors have been found:
                 (particularly helpful when dealing with multiple choice questions)

Check Method 1:  Check factors/answer on the home screen in equation form.
Factor x2 - 12x + 36.    OR      Find (x - 6)2.
 
  • Choose your "favorite" positive one-digit (for ease) integer value and store the value in x (do not pick 0 or 1).   For example, to store a 7:   7  STO► x
  • Hit ENTER. 
  • Enter the problem to be factored (or multiplied) and set "="  to one of the possible answers (or the answer you want to check).  The "=" sign is under 2nd MATH (TEST) #1 =.
  • Hit ENTER.
  • If a 0 appears, this is NOT the correct answer.
    If a 1 appears, this IS the correct answer.

f1
Remember that (x - 6)2
is the same as
(x - 6)(x - 6).

For this problem, we now know that x2 - 12x + 36 = (x - 6)(x - 6).
We also know that (x - 6)2 = x2 - 12x + 36, and NOT x2 + 36 nor x2 - 36.

 

Check Method 2:  Check factors/answer by graphing.
Factor x2 - 12x + 36.    OR      Find (x - 6)2.
 
  • Enter the expression into the Y1= on the calculator.
  • Enter the possible answer response into Y2=.
  • Move to the left of the Y2= and choose the open circle.  This setting will allow you to clearly see the animated circle crossing the screen.
  • When the answer is correct, the animated circle will be "riding" on top of the original graph.
  • Keep checking until the correct answer is found.
  • The only difficult feature of this method is the occasional need to adjust the viewing window to see the graph.

f2
The animated bubble does not run along the
 original curve.  It forms its own graph.
 This is not the correct solution.
 

f3
The animated bubble runs along the
original graph.  This is the answer.

Again, we see that (x - 6)2 = x2 - 12x + 36, and NOT x2 + 36.
This also verifies that
x2 - 12x + 36 = (x - 6)(x - 6).



Answers can be "found" by graphing and finding the zeros of an equation.

Graph Method:  Factors can be found by finding the zeros of an equation.
Find the factors of x2 - 3x - 4.
 
  • Enter the expression to be factored into Y=. 
  • Graph.  The window may need to be adjusted to see where the graph crosses the x-axis (the x-intercepts or zeros).
  • Use the ZERO (2nd CALC #2:zero) function to find the x-intercepts or zeros (also called the roots).  See steps below:
f5 f6 f7
2nd CALC to
locate ZERO
Move spider to left
of  x-intercept. ENTER.
Move spider to right
of x-intercept.  ENTER.
f8 f9 We know have
the zeros,
x = -1
and
x = 4.
When asked for Guess, hit ENTER.
Write down the
x = -1
Repeat the process
to find the other
x-intercept.
Write down x = 4.

f4

f10
The roots (zeros) of this equation (where it crosses the x-intercept) will help us find the factors.

  • Using the zeros (roots), we can find the factors.

f11

Check to see if the factors are correct.  Multiply the factors to see if they give you the original expression.

ANSWER:  
Factors of x2 - 3x - 4 = 0 are (x + 1)(x - 4)

 

Example 1:  (Multiple choice question)
The factors of x2 + 5x +6 are
     (1) (x + 1)(x + 6)
    
(2) (x + 3)(x + 2)
     (3) (x + 5)(x + 1)
     (4) (x + 6)(x - 1)

 

Method 1:
f12
The "favorite" number stored was 7.
When you hit ENTER and a "1" appears,
you have found the answer.

Method 2:
  f13
The two graphs do not overlap.
This is not the answer.

 


f14
The animated bubble overlaps the
original graph.  This is the answer.

 

 

 

Example 2:  (Multiple choice question)
The room that is shown in the figure below has a floor space of 2x2 + x - 15 square feet.  If the width of the room is (x + 3) feet, what is the length? 

            f16
      (1) (x - 3)
    
(2) (2x - 5)
     (3) (x - 5)
     (4) (2x + 5)

Method 1:
f15
Answers are tested until the correct
answer is found.
OR
Check your answer to be sure
you chose wisely.

Method 2:
f17f18  



 

Example 3:  (Free response question)
Find the factors of  8x2 - 10x + 3.

This is a tough one, but you can do it.
Find the zeros and then form the factors.

f19  f20

f22
Find the zeros (x-intercepts).     

f24

f23

f21
If necessary, convert the
decimal answers to fractions.
MATH - #1Frac

Now, form the factors.
factorroots

ANSWER:
 8x2 - 10x + 3 = (2x - 1)(4x - 3)

 

 


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