document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=25044>Question 25044</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Please help in explaining the differences in factoring<BR>\n" );
document.write( "3a^2-12a and factoring 4a^2-16.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "I am not sure where to start so any help would be great. Thanks so much. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #13432 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/aboutme-small.gif BORDER=0 alt=\"About Me\" VALIGN=MIDDLE></A>&nbsp;<IMG SRC=http://www.algebra.com/images/nopicture.jpg><BR>You can <A HREF=\"/cgi-bin/embed-solution.mpl?show=1&solution=13432\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Look at 3a^2-12a.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The 1st thing you look for in factoring is a common factor.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Bothe terms of your problem have a factor of 3 and a factor of \"a\".<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So you factor out the common factor of 3a to get;<BR>\n" );
document.write( " 3a(a-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You cannot factor this further.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Look at 4a^2-16<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The common factor is \"4\", so you get the following:<BR>\n" );
document.write( " 4(a^2-4)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The 2nd thing you look for in factoring is the difference<BR>\n" );
document.write( "of squares.  You have that in the expression x^2-4.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "So you must factor futher and get the following:<BR>\n" );
document.write( " 4(a-2)(a+2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "You cannot factor this further.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
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