Question

Factor 25x^2 + 10x + 1.

(25x + 1)(x + 1)
(5x + 1)(5x - 1)
(5x + 1)²

Answer 1

so if i cant combine like terms then what do i do

Answer 2

this expression is a quadratic.... always in the form

\[ax^2 + bx + c\]

the easy way to solve these is as follows

next write your expression is n brackets with

\[\frac{(ax + factor1)(ax+factor2)}{a}\]
\[\frac{(25x+5)(25x+5)}{25}\]

look for common factors in both pairs of brackets
\[\frac{5\times5\times(5x+1)(5x+1)}{25}\]

cancel the common factor of 25

leaving \[(5x +1)(5x+1) = (5x+1)^2\]