SOLUTION: Factor Completely 81s^2+16-72s

Algebra.Com
Question 552838: Factor Completely
81s^2+16-72s

Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)   (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Looking at the expression , we can see that the first coefficient is , the second coefficient is , and the last term is .


Now multiply the first coefficient by the last term to get .


Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient ?


To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of (the previous product).


Factors of :
1,2,3,4,6,8,9,12,16,18,24,27,36,48,54,72,81,108,144,162,216,324,432,648,1296
-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-8,-9,-12,-16,-18,-24,-27,-36,-48,-54,-72,-81,-108,-144,-162,-216,-324,-432,-648,-1296


Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.


These factors pair up and multiply to .
1*1296 = 1296
2*648 = 1296
3*432 = 1296
4*324 = 1296
6*216 = 1296
8*162 = 1296
9*144 = 1296
12*108 = 1296
16*81 = 1296
18*72 = 1296
24*54 = 1296
27*48 = 1296
36*36 = 1296
(-1)*(-1296) = 1296
(-2)*(-648) = 1296
(-3)*(-432) = 1296
(-4)*(-324) = 1296
(-6)*(-216) = 1296
(-8)*(-162) = 1296
(-9)*(-144) = 1296
(-12)*(-108) = 1296
(-16)*(-81) = 1296
(-18)*(-72) = 1296
(-24)*(-54) = 1296
(-27)*(-48) = 1296
(-36)*(-36) = 1296

Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient :


First NumberSecond NumberSum
112961+1296=1297
26482+648=650
34323+432=435
43244+324=328
62166+216=222
81628+162=170
91449+144=153
1210812+108=120
168116+81=97
187218+72=90
245424+54=78
274827+48=75
363636+36=72
-1-1296-1+(-1296)=-1297
-2-648-2+(-648)=-650
-3-432-3+(-432)=-435
-4-324-4+(-324)=-328
-6-216-6+(-216)=-222
-8-162-8+(-162)=-170
-9-144-9+(-144)=-153
-12-108-12+(-108)=-120
-16-81-16+(-81)=-97
-18-72-18+(-72)=-90
-24-54-24+(-54)=-78
-27-48-27+(-48)=-75
-36-36-36+(-36)=-72



From the table, we can see that the two numbers and add to (the middle coefficient).


So the two numbers and both multiply to and add to


Now replace the middle term with . Remember, and add to . So this shows us that .


Replace the second term with .


Group the terms into two pairs.


Factor out the GCF from the first group.


Factor out from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis.


Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term


Condense the terms.


===============================================================


Answer:


So factors to .


In other words, .


Note: you can check the answer by expanding to get or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).

RELATED QUESTIONS

Factor completely... (answered by swincher4391)
Please help me factor completely. Thanks!... (answered by Earlsdon)
factor... (answered by ReadingBoosters)
16s^2+72s=-81 (answered by mananth)
How do you factor... (answered by vleith)
Factor Completely:... (answered by nyc_function)
Factor completely.... (answered by stanbon)
factor completely... (answered by ankor@dixie-net.com)
factor... (answered by mananth)