Perfect+Square+Trinomials

=__**Factoring a Perfect Square Trinomials**__=

What is a Perfect Square Trinomial?

 * A perfect square trinomial is a quadratic expression found when a binomial is squared. (Ax+B)^2
 * Example (2x+11)^2 = 4x^2+44x+121
 * Where 4x^2+44x+11 is the perfect square trinomial

You can notice the perfect square trinomials in the above example because the 4 in 4x^2 and 121 are both perfects squares.
 * Perfect squares are numbers that are the product of a whole number multiplied by itself, or squared.

When factoring this way you need to look for the perfect squares in your x^2 terms and your constant, if they are both perfect squares then you need to check to see if the middle term is equal to the square roots of the x^2 term and the constant multiplied together and then by 2.
 * Example from above: 4x^2+44x+121 where the square root of 4x^2(quadratic) is 2x and the square root of 121(constant) is 11.
 * So, 2(2x*11) -- 2(22x) -- 44x

Also, the perfect square trinomial is setup equal to y or f(x) [any variable can be substituted for x]

=__**Examples:**__= 1) Y=9x^2+12x+4 Y=(3x+2)^2

2) f(x)=25x^40x+16 f(x)=(5x+4)^2

=**__Cumulative Example:__**= f(g)=4g^2+8x+4 f(g)=4(g^2+2g+1) You see perfect squares, but did you remember to GCF? f(g)=4(g+1)^2 Yes this is still a perfect square trinomial.

If you are looking for a calculator that does factoring then you should try Wolfram Algebra Course Assistant.

Picture found from: http://a4.mzstatic.com/us/r1000/022/Purple/74/63/70/mzl.jbxqacsj.320x480-75.jpg