Question

factor the trinomial completely
4x^3 - 2x^2 - 12x

Answer 1

first find the GCF of the 3 terms in the function
can you do that?

Answer 2

2 x

Answer 3

right
now factor it

Answer 4

2x (2x^2 -x -6) is that right?

Answer 5

= 2x(2x^2 - x - 6)

right

Answer 6

ty

Answer 7

yw - how about the function in the parentheses - can that be factored?

Answer 8

oh, thats not the final answer?

Answer 9

maybe not - i'm just checking that out

Answer 10

ok, i thought it was, now i am confused

Answer 11

these sometimes can be factored into the form (2x + a)(x + b)

Answer 12

we need 2 numbers a and b whose product is -6 and whose sum (with one of them multiplies by 2) is -1 ( to give the -x)

Answer 13

so the answer is (2x-1)(2x^2-6)?

Answer 14

no i'm talking about the factors of 2x^2 - x - 6 ( in the parentheses)

Answer 15

2 * -2
and 1 * +3 will fit the bill

because

+3 * -2 = -6
and

2* -2 = -4
and 1 * +3 = 3

giving -4 + 3 = -1