How do I know if my trinomial is a Perfect Square Trinomial?

A Perfect Square Trinomial is the expansion of a Binomial Squared. Remember, a binomial is a twotermed polynomial. For example when we Square a Binomial .

( 3x + 7 y ) = ( 3x ) + 2 ( 3x )( 7 y ) + ( 7 y ) = 9 x 2 + 42 xy + 49 y 2 2 2 2 ( 2a + 3) = ( 2a ) + 2 ( 2a )( 3) + ( 3) = 4a 2 12a + 9
we get a Perfect Square Trinomial. Perfect Square Trinomials have first and last terms that are positive perfect squares. And the middle term is twice the product of the square roots of the first and third terms. The sign of the middle term will tell us whether the factorization will involve a binomial that is either a sum or a difference (signs need to match). In short, check your trinomial for the following characteristics to determine if its a Perfect Square Trinomial:

First term is a positive perfect square Last term is a positive perfect square The middle term is twice the product of the square root of the first term and the square root of the third term.

So, our Perfect Square Trinomial factoring formulas are

a 2 + 2ab + b 2 = ( a + b ) a 2 2ab + b 2 = ( a b )
For example, factor: 16 x 2 24 xy + 9 y 2

(4x)

2 ( 4 x )( 3 y ) + ( 3 y )

( 4x 3 y )

where a 2 = 16 x 2 , so a = 4 x and, 2 2 b = 9 y , so b = 3 y

You may choose to compare your trinomial with the formula, to determine if its a Perfect Square Trinomial, or you may use the saying:

First you take the square roots of terms one and three; Double their product, and you check and see; If it matches term two, then you can declare the three-termed trinomial is a perfect square.
--Anonymous

2003 Math Frog Educational Publications (Pilar Mata)