Question

Factor 2x2 + 5x + 3

Answer 1

here is a method that works every time...

show you teacher and they will be amazed

for a quadratic

y = ax^2 + bx + c

multiply a and c

so in your question a = 2 and c = 3

so 2 * 3 = 6

now find the factors of 6 that add to b, or 5 in your question

so 2 + 3

then you have

(ax + factor 1)(ax + fractor2) (2x + 2)(2x +3)
--------------------------- --------------
a 2


the 1st binomial has a common factor of 2

so you have

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

cancel the common factor and you get

(x + 1)(2x + 3)

and it works every time... and eliminates the need for guess and check.