Question

Factor. Use factoring by grouping even though it would seem reasonable to first combine like terms.
2s2−7s−14s+49
@Nnesha

Answer 1

I got 2s( s+7) (2s^2+7)

Answer 2

If you multiply it out, you will find that the expression is not the same as the given question.

Grouping consists of putting together terms that have similar ratios, for example:
2s2−7s−14s+49
we put together
(2s^2-14s) +(-7s+49)
they two groups both have a factor of 7, so we can take out the common factor of each group:
2s(s-7) + -7(s-7)
Now we see that (s-7) is a common factor, means we succeeded in grouping.
The next step is to extract the common factor (s-7) to get
(s-7)(2s-7)
as the final factorization.

Answer 3

so the answer will be (2s-7)

Answer 4

why would the answer not be (s-7)(2s-7)?

Answer 5

just for future knowledge i am confused with why this (2s-7) would be the only answer.

Answer 6

@dontre

Answer 7

@dontre
The answer will be (s-7)(2s-7) or (2s-7)(s-7) because you are asked to factor.
@huntergirl1 you're right the answer should contain both factors.