SOLUTION: how do I factor completely: 4a^2 -4a -48

Algebra.Com
Question 283379: how do I factor completely:
4a^2 -4a -48

Answer by richwmiller(17219)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
right away you can see that you can factor 4
4*(a^2-a-12)
now we have 1 and 12
so we need factors of twelve with a difference of one
1 12 11
2 6 4
3 4 1
4 3 1
we are repeating and the only match is 3 and 4
the larger number must be negative
(a-4)*(a+3)
so now we have 4*(a-4)*(a+3)

RELATED QUESTIONS

How do I factor this? 4a^2-4a+1= (answered by richwmiller)
how do i factor this completely?..please help...thanks 4a^2+18a-10 (answered by checkley71)
Factor Completely:... (answered by checkley77)
Factor completely.... (answered by tommyt3rd)
factor completely... (answered by jim_thompson5910)
Factor polynomial completely... (answered by Alan3354)
factor completely:... (answered by Greenfinch)
4a^2 + 16a + 16 factor... (answered by mananth)
Factor 4a^2-4a +... (answered by mananth)