SOLUTION: 6x^2 - 28x + 16

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Question 143268: 6x^2 - 28x + 16

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Do you want to factor?




Start with the given expression


Factor out the GCF


Now let's focus on the inner expression




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Looking at we can see that the first term is and the last term is where the coefficients are 3 and 8 respectively.

Now multiply the first coefficient 3 and the last coefficient 8 to get 24. Now what two numbers multiply to 24 and add to the middle coefficient -14? Let's list all of the factors of 24:



Factors of 24:
1,2,3,4,6,8,12,24

-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-8,-12,-24 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations

These factors pair up and multiply to 24
1*24
2*12
3*8
4*6
(-1)*(-24)
(-2)*(-12)
(-3)*(-8)
(-4)*(-6)

note: remember two negative numbers multiplied together make a positive number


Now which of these pairs add to -14? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -14

First NumberSecond NumberSum
1241+24=25
2122+12=14
383+8=11
464+6=10
-1-24-1+(-24)=-25
-2-12-2+(-12)=-14
-3-8-3+(-8)=-11
-4-6-4+(-6)=-10



From this list we can see that -2 and -12 add up to -14 and multiply to 24


Now looking at the expression , replace with (notice adds up to . So it is equivalent to )




Now let's factor by grouping:


Group like terms


Factor out the GCF of out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of out of the second group


Since we have a common term of , we can combine like terms

So factors to


So this also means that factors to (since is equivalent to )



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So our expression goes from and factors further to


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Answer:

So factors to

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