Question

can anyone factor 6x^2 - 28x + 16?? I am lost because nothing that multiplies into 16 equals 28 when added and 6 isn't a perfect square

Answer 1

yeah, i can do it

Answer 2

how?

Answer 3

first, what two numbers multiple to be 16

Answer 4

4 4 or 8 2

Answer 5

more specifically, -4*-4

Answer 6

right

Answer 7

but i thought when added together they need to equal -28
that doesnt

Answer 8

what about 4 and 24

Answer 9

thats true, but we have to remeber that we have a 6 as the coefficent of the x^2 term, that rule, where they have to add up to the middle term applies mostly when the leading term is x^2 only

Answer 10

they don't multiply to equal 16

Answer 11

i am not sure that i know what to do then...

Answer 12

so what we do is put (6x-?)(x-?)

Answer 13

-4-24=-28
-4*-24=96

Answer 14

4 and 4??

Answer 15

exactly

Answer 16

you serious? its x^2? you had x^4 in the other question...

Answer 17

now check by foiling out

Answer 18

(6x-4)(x-4)

Answer 19

another way you could do it is:
6x2-28x+16
=2(3x2-14x+8)
=2(3x2-12x-2x+8)
=2{3x(x-4)-2(x-4)}
=2(x-4)(3x-2)

Answer 20

i am sorry junkiejim i didnt catch that... Too many numbers and exponents

Answer 21

wow, that makes that alot simpler.... here I was trying to figure out how to factor that quartic function....

Answer 22

its not essential but it would have been somewhat easier if you had first divided the original expression by 2

Answer 23

i saw that earlier post as well, and knew something off

Answer 24

I also showed that way

Answer 25

Thank you very much for the help!!

Answer 26

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