+279 Factor completely the trinomial below. Write each factor as a polynomial in descending order.
12x^2 - 32x - 12
Any explaination would be nice
Factor completely the trinomial below. Write each factor as a polynomial in descending order.
12x^2 - 32x - 12
There's a scientific way to do this, but I don't know it. I tried to find it on the internet so I could relay the method to you, but I didn't understand it.
The way I do it, the way I've always done it, is to examine the numbers, then make informed guesses.
This one factors to (12x + 4)(x – 3) It took me three tries to find the right combinations.
I knew the coefficients of the "x" numbers must multiply to 12 and the "plain" numbers without an x must multiply to –12.
So I had to find the right ones. I don't know how I do it, but I just look at them and try a few. It took me until the third try to get it this time.
When you multiply the factors, you get 12x2 – 36x + 4x – 12 ,,,, then –36x + 4x gets you the –32x
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