SOLUTION: Please factor the polynomial: {{{ 10x^2y-8x^3y^2+24xy^2 }}}

Question 365719: Please factor the polynomial:
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 5 and 12 respectively.

Now multiply the first coefficient 5 and the last coefficient 12 to get 60. Now what two numbers multiply to 60 and add to the middle coefficient -4? Let's list all of the factors of 60:

Factors of 60:
1,2,3,4,5,6,10,12,15,20,30,60

-1,-2,-3,-4,-5,-6,-10,-12,-15,-20,-30,-60 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations

These factors pair up and multiply to 60
1*60
2*30
3*20
4*15
5*12
6*10
(-1)*(-60)
(-2)*(-30)
(-3)*(-20)
(-4)*(-15)
(-5)*(-12)
(-6)*(-10)

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	60	1+60=61
2	30	2+30=32
3	20	3+20=23
4	15	4+15=19
5	12	5+12=17
6	10	6+10=16
-1	-60	-1+(-60)=-61
-2	-30	-2+(-30)=-32
-3	-20	-3+(-20)=-23
-4	-15	-4+(-15)=-19
-5	-12	-5+(-12)=-17
-6	-10	-6+(-10)=-16

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

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Answer:
So factors to

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