Question:
Resolve each of the following quadratic trinomial into factor:
(2a − b)2 + 2(2a − b) − 8
Solution:
Assuming $x=2 a-b$, we have :
$(2 a-b)^{2}+2(2 a-b)-8=x^{2}+2 x-8$
The given expression becomes $x^{2}+2 x-8 . \quad$ (Coefficient of $x^{2}=1$ and that of $x=2 ;$ constant term $=-8$ )
Now, we will split the coefficient of $x$ into two parts such that their sum is 2 and their product equals the product of the coefficient of $x^{2}$ and the cons $\tan t$ term, i.e., $1 \times(-8)=-8$.
Clearly,
$(-2)+4=2$
and
$(-2) \times 4=-8$
Replacing the middle term $2 x$ by $-2 x+4 x$, we get:
$x^{2}+2 x-8=x^{2}-2 x+4 x-8$
$=\left(x^{2}-2 x\right)+(4 x-8)$
$=x(x-2)+4(x-2)$
$=(x+4)(x-2)$
Relacing $x$ by $2 a-b$, we get:
$(x+4)(x-2)=(2 a-b+4)(2 a-b-2)$