Can someone please explain to me step by step how to group terms with common factors and solve it out? I literally have no idea how to do this and I have a test over it tomorrow.

3x^2+6x+x+2

Question

Can someone please explain to me step by step how to group terms with common factors and solve it out? I literally have no idea how to do this and I have a test over it tomorrow. 

3x^2+6x+x+2

amistre64 · Answer

i take it this is factor by grouping?

anonymous · Answer

yes

amistre64 · Answer

there is no 1 singular approach, its basically try and error

(3x^2+6x) + (x+2)  , the left term looks like it has common stuff

3x(x+2) + 1(x+2); now they both have a common (x+2)
(x+2) (3x+1)



(3x^2+x) + (6x+2)  , both terms look like it has common stuff
x(3x+1) + 2(3x+1); now they both have a common (3x+1)
(3x+1)(x+2)



(3x^2+2) + (6x+x)  , the right term look like it has common stuff
(3x^2+2) + x(6+1)
(3x^2+2) + 7x .... this grouping gets us nowhere fast

amistre64 · Answer

the first 2 setups produce the same result, the 3rd on just makes a mess ... so you have a pretty good shot, 2 out of 3, to make something work :)