Factor the following:
-3 x^2-5 x-2
Factor -1 out of -3 x^2-5 x-2:
-(3 x^2+5 x+2)
Factor the quadratic 3 x^2+5 x+2. The coefficient of x^2 is 3 and the constant term is 2. The product of 3 and 2 is 6. The factors of 6 which sum to 5 are 2 and 3. So 3 x^2+5 x+2 = 3 x^2+3 x+2 x+2 = (3 x+2)+x (3 x+2):
-(3 x+2)+x (3 x+2)
Factor 3 x+2 from (3 x+2)+x (3 x+2):
Answer: |-(3x + 2) (x + 1)
