Question

What is the factorization of the trinomial below?

-2x3 - 2x2 + 12x

A. -2x(x + 3)(x - 2)
B. -2x(x - 3)(x + 2)
C. -2x(x + 3)(x + 2)
D. 2x(x2 + 3)(x + 2)

Answer 1

Factoring! Do you see a common factor in the 3 terms?

Answer 2

2?

Answer 3

-2x is a common term

Answer 4

but how come its not in the third term?

Answer 5

It is. -2 is a factor of 12x and x is a factor of 12x. You can factor negative numbers out of positive numbers.

So when you factor -2x you get:

-2x(x^2+x-6)

See how I got that?

Answer 6

no, i am still confused. im trying to plug the numbers in and its not making sense still