Question

factor 2t^2+5t+2

Answer 1

You will have the following form to start with because all terms are positive and 2 (coefficient on t^2) has only 1 and 2 as factors:

(2t + a )(t + b )

As for "a" and "b", that numeric 2 at the end also has only 2 and 1 as factors, so you will have either:

1 2
2 1

So you try both .

Answer 2

So, basically you pick from either:

(2t + 2)(t + 1)

or

(2t + 1)(t + 2)

You just expand both and see which one works. And that's all you have to do!

Answer 3

Is it making sense to you @marissadawn ?