factor completely 2x^3 + 18xy - 10x^2y - 90y

please show me the steps. i am so confused!

Question

factor completely 2x^3 + 18xy - 10x^2y - 90y 

please show me the steps. i am so confused!

anonymous · Answer

@bahrom7893's can you help me?

sammixboo · Answer

Welcome to Open Study! Having any questions or problems? Just ask me or anyone with a purple A next to their username!

anonymous · Answer

@sammixboo thanks so much!  Do you think you can help me?

sammixboo · Answer

Yes! Just hold on ;)

anonymous · Answer

okay thanks @sammixboo

sammixboo · Answer

Follow @bahrom7893 He/She is helping you

anonymous · Answer

thanks so much!! @bahrom7893 ur a life saver

anonymous · Answer

its okay. thanks for even helping! @bahrom7893

anonymous · Answer

i don't think this sucker factors

anonymous · Answer

@satellite73 thats what i thought but my teacher says it does. im home school and im so stuck!

anonymous · Answer

besides the obvious factoring out a 2

whpalmer4 · Answer

I think it is supposed to be $$2 x^3 + 18 x y - 10 x^2 - 90 y$$
$$(2x^3+18xy) +(-10x^2-90y)$$$$2x(x^2+9y) + (-10)(x^2+9y)$$$$(2x-10)(x^2+9y)$$$$2(x-5)(x^2+9y)$$

anonymous · Answer

that looks more correct @whpalmer4 thanks so much!!!

whpalmer4 · Answer

I "factored" the other one a couple of times and kept scratching my head when I multiplied it out to check my work :-)  Then the little light bulb glowed ever so faintly :-)

anonymous · Answer

one last thing.. @whpalmer4  if the two middle terms were switched so that the expression became 2x^3 - 10x^2y + 18xy - 90 , would the answer still be the same?

whpalmer4 · Answer

I think you still have a spurious $y$ in there...or in the wrong spot.  The order of the terms makes no difference in the factoring.