Difference between revisions of "Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick"

Revision as of 20:18, 12 January 2021

The General Statement

Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick (SFFT) is often used in a Diophantine(Positive) equation where factoring is needed. The most common form it appears is when there is a constant on one side of the equation and a product of variables with each of those variables in a linear term on the other side. A extortive example would be: $xy+66x-88y=23333$ where $23333$ is the constant term, $xy$ is the product of the variables, $66x$ and $-88y$ are the variables in linear terms.

Let's put it in general terms. We have an equation $xy+jx+ky=a$ , where $j$ , $k$ , and $a$ are integral constants. According to Simon's Favourite Factoring Trick, this equation can be transformed into: $(x+k)(y+j)=a+jk$ Using the previous example, $xy+66x-88y=23333$ is the same as: $(x-88)(y+66)=(23333)+(-88)(66)$

If this is confusing or you would like to know the thought process behind SFFT, see this eight-minute video by Richard Rusczyk from AoPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nN3H7w2LnI. For the thought process, start from https://youtu.be/0nN3H7w2LnI?t=366

Applications

This factorization frequently shows up on contest problems, especially those heavy on algebraic manipulation. Usually $x$ and $y$ are variables and $j,k$ are known constants. Also, it is typically necessary to add the $jk$ term to both sides to perform the factorization.

Fun Practice Problems

Introductory

Two different prime numbers between $4$ and $18$ are chosen. When their sum is subtracted from their product, which of the following numbers could be obtained?

$\mathrm{(A) \ 22 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ 60 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ 119 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ 180 } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ 231 }$

(Source)

Intermediate

$m, n$ are integers such that $m^2 + 3m^2n^2 = 30n^2 + 517$ . Find $3m^2n^2$ .

(Source)

Olympiad

The integer $N$ is positive. There are exactly 2005 ordered pairs $(x, y)$ of positive integers satisfying:

$\frac 1x +\frac 1y = \frac 1N$

Prove that $N$ is a perfect square.

Source: (British Mathematical Olympiad Round 3, 2005)

See More

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==About==
+==The General Statement==
-'''Dr. Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick''' (abbreviated '''SFFT''') is a special factorization first popularized by [[AoPS]] user [[user:ComplexZeta | Simon Rubinstein-Salzedo]].
+Simon's Favorite Factoring Trick (SFFT) is often used in a Diophantine(Positive) equation where factoring is needed. The most common form it appears is when there is a constant on one side of the equation and a product of variables with each of those variables in a linear term on the other side. A extortive example would be: <cmath>xy+66x-88y=23333</cmath>where <math>23333</math> is the constant term, <math>xy</math> is the product of the variables, <math>66x</math> and <math>-88y</math> are the variables in linear terms.
-==The General Statement==
-The general statement of SFFT is: <math>{xy}+{xk}+{yj}+{jk}=(x+j)(y+k)</math>.  Two special common cases are: <math>xy + x + y + 1 = (x+1)(y+1)</math> and <math>xy - x - y +1 = (x-1)(y-1)</math>.
-The act of adding <math>{jk}</math> to <math>{xy}+{xk}+{yj}</math> in order to be able to factor it could be called "completing the rectangle" in analogy to the more familiar "completing the square."
+Let's put it in general terms. We have an equation <math>xy+jx+ky=a</math>, where <math>j</math>, <math>k</math>, and <math>a</math> are integral constants. According to Simon's Favourite Factoring Trick, this equation can be transformed into: <cmath>(x+k)(y+j)=a+jk</cmath>
+Using the previous example, <math>xy+66x-88y=23333</math> is the same as: <cmath>(x-88)(y+66)=(23333)+(-88)(66)</cmath>
-Friend DJ835689
+If this is confusing or you would like to know the thought process behind SFFT, see this eight-minute video by Richard Rusczyk from AoPS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nN3H7w2LnI. For the thought process, start from https://youtu.be/0nN3H7w2LnI?t=366
 == Applications ==
 This factorization frequently shows up on contest problems, especially those heavy on algebraic manipulation. Usually <math>x</math> and <math>y</math> are variables and <math>j,k</math> are known constants. Also, it is typically necessary to add the <math>jk</math> term to both sides to perform the factorization.
-BID DJD<DlkDJDHDdcc
-== Problems ==
+== Fun Practice Problems ==
 ===Introductory===
 *Two different [[prime number]]s between <math>4</math> and <math>18</math> are chosen. When their sum is subtracted from their product, which of the following numbers could be obtained?
-<math> \mathrm{(A) \ 21 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ 60 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ 119 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ 180 } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ 231 }  </math>
+<math> \mathrm{(A) \ 22 } \qquad \mathrm{(B) \ 60 } \qquad \mathrm{(C) \ 119 } \qquad \mathrm{(D) \ 180 } \qquad \mathrm{(E) \ 231 }  </math>
 ([[2000 AMC 12/Problem 6|Source]])
 ===Intermediate===
 *<math>m, n</math> are integers such that <math>m^2 + 3m^2n^2 = 30n^2 + 517</math>. Find <math>3m^2n^2</math>.
 ([[1987 AIME Problems/Problem 5|Source]])
 ===Olympiad===
@@ Line 33: / Line 32: @@
 <cmath>\frac 1x +\frac 1y = \frac 1N</cmath>
-Prove that <math>N</math> is a perfect square. (British Mathematical Olympiad Round 2, 2005)
+Prove that <math>N</math> is a perfect square.
-Friend DJ835689
+Source: (British Mathematical Olympiad Round 3, 2005)
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
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-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-Friend DJ835689
-== See Also ==
+== See More==
 * [[Algebra]]
 * [[Factoring]]

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