SOLUTION: Can you please help me factor this polynomial? 8x^2 + 16x +12 thank you!

Question 336804: Can you please help me factor this polynomial?
8x^2 + 16x +12 thank you!
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

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 2 and 3 respectively.

Now multiply the first coefficient 2 and the last coefficient 3 to get 6. Now what two numbers multiply to 6 and add to the middle coefficient 4? Let's list all of the factors of 6:

Factors of 6:
1,2,3,6

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

These factors pair up and multiply to 6
1*6
2*3
(-1)*(-6)
(-2)*(-3)

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

Now which of these pairs add to 4? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to 4

First Number	Second Number	Sum
1	6	1+6=7
2	3	2+3=5
-1	-6	-1+(-6)=-7
-2	-3	-2+(-3)=-5

None of these pairs of factors add to 4. So the expression cannot be factored

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Answer:
So factors to

If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com

Also, feel free to check out my website.

Jim

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