document.write( "Question 152073: -20-3x+3x^2=0\r
\n" ); document.write( "\n" ); document.write( "I can't seem to find the right way to factor it! \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #111789 by Earlsdon(6294) $\"\"$ $\"About$

You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Perhaps that is because the trinomial $\"-20-3x%2B3x%5E2=0\"$ is not factorable...in other words, it's prime.
\n" ); document.write( "Let's rearrange the trinomial so that it's in standard form:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"3x%5E2-3x-20+=+0\"$
\n" ); document.write( "The factors, if there were any, would take the form:
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%283x%2Bm%29%28x%2Bn%29+=+0\"$ and you need to have m*n = -20 and 3n+m = -3
\n" ); document.write( "The factors of -20 are:
\n" ); document.write( "-20 = -1*20 or 1*(-20) and 3(-1)+20 = 17, 3(1)+(-20) = -17
\n" ); document.write( "-20 = -2*10 or 2*(-10) and 3(-2)+10 = 4, 3(2)+(-10) = -4
\n" ); document.write( "-20 = -4*5 or 4*(-5) and 3(-4)+5 = -7, 3(4)+(-5) = 7
\n" ); document.write( "So, as you can see, there is no way to get a -3 from combining the factors of -20.
\n" ); document.write( "The trinomial is prime!
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