document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=336901>Question 336901</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> ok so i have problems with math all the time..im negative.. and i was doing good eariler when my teacher was right next to me.. but now i forgot everything!!<BR>\n" );
document.write( "im factoring polynomials and this question im just so very lost..\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2a^2x^2 - 6a^2x +4ax </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #241490 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=tinbar><B>tinbar(133)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-09.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=tinbar><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=241490\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> it's ok! there's always time to fix your errors and re learn what you already know\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "firstly, a brief explanation about factoring. factoring is simply the process of breaking stuff down into components thats can't be broken down further. let's start with a simple example, take the number 6<BR>\n" );
document.write( "6=3*2, now we can't break 2 and 3 further since they are prime. hence we say, 6's factors include 2 and 3\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "in the same sense the polynomial we have may jus be composed of other parts that cannot be broken down\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2(a^2)(x^2)-6a^2x+4ax<BR>\n" );
document.write( "so we can notice there are leading coeffecients for each term, namely, 2, -6, and 4<BR>\n" );
document.write( "also there are 'a' terms and ther are also 'x' terms. first let's factor out the leading coeffecients, what factor do 2,-6 and 4 have in common? it's 2 of course! since 2*1=2,2*-3=6 and 2*2=4\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "so we can factor out 2 from each term and get\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2(a^2)(x^2)-6a^2x+4ax=2[(a^2)(x^2)-3a^2x+2ax] <- expand and check to make sure this is true\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "next we look at 'a' terms, and see that we have a^2 in the first term, a^2 in the second and a in the third, therefore the common factor for them will be just a, so let's pull that out as well\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2a[(a)(x^2)-3ax+2x]\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "lastly we do the same thing for 'x' terms. i will leave it to u to show the common factor is x\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "2ax[(a)(x)-3a+2] <- factored form, we cannot simplify anymore<BR>\n" );
document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );