factorising help
- Thread starter mdem1234
- Start date
wisconsin325
New member
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- May 22, 2009
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- 10
The coefficient of x should be -18 not -16
BigGlenntheHeavy
Senior Member
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- Mar 8, 2009
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First mdem when factoring, always pull out any common factors, except the trivial factors 1 and -1.
Hence 6x^2-18x+12 = 6(x^2-3x+2).
Now to factor, if possible, x^2-3x+2, since the polynomial consists of only integers, one can try the hit or miss method or factoring by grouping. One sure fire method is the quadratic formula for this polynomial.
However, by hit or miss, we get 6(x-2)(x-1).
Note: One thing about factoring, is one can always check his answer by reversing the method (combining what was originally expanded.
Hope this helped.
Hence 6x^2-18x+12 = 6(x^2-3x+2).
Now to factor, if possible, x^2-3x+2, since the polynomial consists of only integers, one can try the hit or miss method or factoring by grouping. One sure fire method is the quadratic formula for this polynomial.
However, by hit or miss, we get 6(x-2)(x-1).
Note: One thing about factoring, is one can always check his answer by reversing the method (combining what was originally expanded.
Hope this helped.
