SOLUTION: Factor completely. Remember to look first for a common factor. Check by multiplying. If a polynomial is prime, state this. 27m^2 - 36 + 12 This is what I have got so far if I

Algebra ->  Quadratic Equations and Parabolas -> SOLUTION: Factor completely. Remember to look first for a common factor. Check by multiplying. If a polynomial is prime, state this. 27m^2 - 36 + 12 This is what I have got so far if I      Log On


   



Question 282408: Factor completely. Remember to look first for a common factor. Check by multiplying. If a polynomial is prime, state this.
27m^2 - 36 + 12
This is what I have got so far if I am heading in the right direction please let me know and what I do next if not help me figure this one out.
27m^2 - 36 + 12
=3(9x^2 - 12x + 4)
=3[(3x)^2 - 4*3 + 2^2]
That's all I got so far.

Answer by richwmiller(17219) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
first i suspect that you copied the problem incorrectly
27m^2 - 36 + 12
I suspect it should be
27m^2 - 36m + 12
You perform some magic with the equation changing m's to x's
and then the last line is completely a mystery what you are doing and why you are doing it.
assuming it should be
27m^2 - 36m + 12
3*(9m^2-12m+4)
Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping)


Looking at the expression 9m%5E2-12m%2B4, we can see that the first coefficient is 9, the second coefficient is -12, and the last term is 4.



Now multiply the first coefficient 9 by the last term 4 to get %289%29%284%29=36.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to 36 (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient -12?



To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of 36 (the previous product).



Factors of 36:

1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36

-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-9,-12,-18,-36



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



These factors pair up and multiply to 36.

1*36 = 36
2*18 = 36
3*12 = 36
4*9 = 36
6*6 = 36
(-1)*(-36) = 36
(-2)*(-18) = 36
(-3)*(-12) = 36
(-4)*(-9) = 36
(-6)*(-6) = 36


Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient -12:



First NumberSecond NumberSum
1361+36=37
2182+18=20
3123+12=15
494+9=13
666+6=12
-1-36-1+(-36)=-37
-2-18-2+(-18)=-20
-3-12-3+(-12)=-15
-4-9-4+(-9)=-13
-6-6-6+(-6)=-12




From the table, we can see that the two numbers -6 and -6 add to -12 (the middle coefficient).



So the two numbers -6 and -6 both multiply to 36 and add to -12



Now replace the middle term -12m with -6m-6m. Remember, -6 and -6 add to -12. So this shows us that -6m-6m=-12m.



9m%5E2%2Bhighlight%28-6m-6m%29%2B4 Replace the second term -12m with -6m-6m.



%289m%5E2-6m%29%2B%28-6m%2B4%29 Group the terms into two pairs.



3m%283m-2%29%2B%28-6m%2B4%29 Factor out the GCF 3m from the first group.



3m%283m-2%29-2%283m-2%29 Factor out 2 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.



%283m-2%29%283m-2%29 Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term 3m-2



%283m-2%29%5E2 Condense the terms.



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



Answer:



So 9%2Am%5E2-12%2Am%2B4 factors to %283m-2%29%5E2.



In other words, 9%2Am%5E2-12%2Am%2B4=%283m-2%29%5E2.



Note: you can check the answer by expanding %283m-2%29%5E2 to get 9%2Am%5E2-12%2Am%2B4 or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).



Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping)


27%2Am%5E2-36%2Am%2B12 Start with the given expression.



3%289m%5E2-12m%2B4%29 Factor out the GCF 3.



Now let's try to factor the inner expression 9m%5E2-12m%2B4



---------------------------------------------------------------



Looking at the expression 9m%5E2-12m%2B4, we can see that the first coefficient is 9, the second coefficient is -12, and the last term is 4.



Now multiply the first coefficient 9 by the last term 4 to get %289%29%284%29=36.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to 36 (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient -12?



To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of 36 (the previous product).



Factors of 36:

1,2,3,4,6,9,12,18,36

-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-9,-12,-18,-36



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



These factors pair up and multiply to 36.

1*36 = 36
2*18 = 36
3*12 = 36
4*9 = 36
6*6 = 36
(-1)*(-36) = 36
(-2)*(-18) = 36
(-3)*(-12) = 36
(-4)*(-9) = 36
(-6)*(-6) = 36


Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient -12:



First NumberSecond NumberSum
1361+36=37
2182+18=20
3123+12=15
494+9=13
666+6=12
-1-36-1+(-36)=-37
-2-18-2+(-18)=-20
-3-12-3+(-12)=-15
-4-9-4+(-9)=-13
-6-6-6+(-6)=-12




From the table, we can see that the two numbers -6 and -6 add to -12 (the middle coefficient).



So the two numbers -6 and -6 both multiply to 36 and add to -12



Now replace the middle term -12m with -6m-6m. Remember, -6 and -6 add to -12. So this shows us that -6m-6m=-12m.



9m%5E2%2Bhighlight%28-6m-6m%29%2B4 Replace the second term -12m with -6m-6m.



%289m%5E2-6m%29%2B%28-6m%2B4%29 Group the terms into two pairs.



3m%283m-2%29%2B%28-6m%2B4%29 Factor out the GCF 3m from the first group.



3m%283m-2%29-2%283m-2%29 Factor out 2 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.



%283m-2%29%283m-2%29 Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term 3m-2



%283m-2%29%5E2 Condense the terms.



--------------------------------------------------



So 3%289m%5E2-12m%2B4%29 then factors further to 3%283m-2%29%5E2



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



Answer:



So 27%2Am%5E2-36%2Am%2B12 completely factors to 3%283m-2%29%5E2.



In other words, 27%2Am%5E2-36%2Am%2B12=3%283m-2%29%5E2.



Note: you can check the answer by expanding 3%283m-2%29%5E2 to get 27%2Am%5E2-36%2Am%2B12 or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).