Question

factor completely :
8x^2-8x-16

Answer 1

\[8x ^{2}-8x -16\]do i do this by combining like terms?

Answer 2

@iGreen @Mateaus

Answer 3

Mhmm this is the opposite of combining like terms.

Answer 4

5(x+1)<-- you are combining here and you get 5x+5.

Answer 5

But now you are being asked to get 5(x+1) from the 5x+5. Understand?

Answer 6

so i need to break it down or somehing

Answer 7

i think so

Answer 8

you have to go backwards.

Answer 9

that sounds intimidating

Answer 10

at first a bit but then your brain do it in a second haha

Answer 11

Ok so, what do you think we can factor from 8x^2-8x-16?

Answer 12

8x^2?

Answer 13

hmm I will give you one example first.

Answer 14

We have 2x^2 +2x +2. We see common factors of 2 so we can take out 2 and it would look like this. 2(x^2+x+1) right? because if we combine like terms we will go back to the original one.

Answer 15

so when you factor something youre kind of taking the like terms out?

Answer 16

yes

Answer 17

huh. ok. so i fan factor the 8s

Answer 18

ok, write how it would look like after you factor 8