Question

36x^2 -12x-24

Answer 1

36x^2 - 12x - 24
= 12(3x^2 - x - 2)
= 12(3x+2)(x-1)

Answer 2

how did you get the 3x+2..doesn't the 3 need to be negative? and why do you put the x on the 3 do you just put it on whichever one?

Answer 3

General rule when factoring.
(3x+2)(x-1) --> use distribution
(3x^2 - 3x + 2x - 2)
= (3x^2 -x -2)

Answer 4

I was factoring by splitting the middle term: 3*-2 is -6 so I try to find two numbers to put in place of the -x that multiplied is -6 but add to -x (-1) so I got 12(3x^2 -3x+2x -2 and I know the process is right so I don't understand what is wrong.

Answer 5

hm, not sure how to do it in that way...