Question

factor -3y^2+2y-1

Answer 1

Divide the equation by -1...

Answer 2

Factoring out the -1 isn't necessary, but sometimes I prefer my leading coefficients positive too.

A general way that works every time is to multiply your constant term by the leading coefficient -1 × -3 in this case, and try to find factors of that number that add up to the middle coefficient.

For -3y^2+2y-1, however, I don't think this is possible.

Answer 3

Are you sure all the + and - signs are correct? If so, then that number won't factor.

Answer 4

Yes they are and thats what I thought too, so I'll have to do the quadratic formula right?