Question

factor completely 8x^4-20x^3-12x^2

Answer 1

Looks like \(4x^{2}\) is a factor.

Answer 2

Would this be prime?

Answer 3

No. What's wrong with the factor I just gave you? What does it leave after factoring that out?

Answer 4

so the answer is 4x^2(2x^2-5x-3)?

Answer 5

It would be the answer if that trinomial cannot be factored. Can it?

Answer 6

no

Answer 7

Let's see... \((-5)^{2} - 4(2)(-3) = 25 + 24 = 49 = 7^{12}\)

Whoops. It CAN be factored. Try harder.

2x^2-5x-3
(2x __ ____)(x __ ____)

Fill in the blanks.

Answer 8

i dont know

Answer 9

You've never factored anything?

Answer 10

i have

Answer 11

Good, then. There are only four possibilities. Try them out and see which one works.

(2x + 1)(x - 3)
(2x - 1)(x + 3)
(2x + 3)(x - 1)
(2x - 3)(x + 1)

Which?

Answer 12

the first
i get it now thanks

Answer 13

There you go.