Question

Will someone explain how to factor a trinomial?

My practice work says: factor each trinomial.

3x^2-20x+28

Answer 1

You multiply the 3 and 28 together: 3*28 = 84
Now you find all factors of 84, such that adding both of them will give -20

So, -6 and -14 work because (-6*-14)= 84 and -6 + (-14) = -20

So, what you do is write down 3x^2 -6x -14x + 28

[because -6x-14x = -20x, you break it down using the factors 06, -14 you found)

Now, you factor the first 2 terms, and the last two terms:
3x(x-2) - 14(x-2); now you have (x-2) is a common factor, so you factor again:

(x-2)(3x-14)

Answer 2

That is correct! Thank you so much for your explanation!

Answer 3

yw :)