Question

How to factor 18a^2+15a-18?

Answer 1

@whpalmer4 can you help me?

Answer 2

first, do you see any common factors in the coefficients?

Answer 3

yes 3.

Answer 4

okay, generally it makes life easier to factor out any common factors first, so the numbers we work with are as small as possible

Answer 5

so that gives us \[3(6a^2+5a-6)\]right?

Answer 6

yes

Answer 7

do you remember the procedure for splitting the middle when the leading term has a coefficient other than 1?

Answer 8

we'll just leave the 3 behind for the moment and factor
\[6a^2+5a-6\]

Answer 9

6a^2+6a-1a_6

Answer 10

huh?

Answer 11

so the procedure is to multiply the first and last term's coefficients:
6*-6 = -36

Now we look for a pair of factors of -36 that sum to +5

Answer 12

you have to split the middle coefficient.

Answer 13

this is my answer #(2a+3)(3a-2)

Answer 14

3*

Answer 15

that's correct!

Answer 16

3(2x+3)(3x−2)

Answer 17

yay my dad said I'm wrong.