document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=504355>Question 504355</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Hi. My name is Cindy. I am having difficulty with a problem. The question is: factor this expression completely. 6x^2-27x-1 I do not understand how to factor this expression. This is one of my review questions so I can see the answer which is 3(2x+1)(x-5), but I do not understand how to get to that answer. The steps I have been using for the other problems are: multiply the first number by the last number, factor the product, then decide which factors together equal the middle number. then common factor the first two terms, and the last two terms. Finally I am supposed to factor the common binomial from each of the two products to get the fully factored expression. I just do not see how this method works here. There must be a simpler method of answering this question, and a method that works. I am just so confused! Can anyone please help me? Thank you.  </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #339568 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=339568\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> factor this expression completely. 6x^2-27x-15<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Common Factor: 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "= 3[2x^2-9x-5)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "How to factor 2x^2-9x-5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Think of 2 numbers whose product is 2*-5 = -10<BR>\n" );
document.write( "and whose sum is -9<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The numbers are -10 and +1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Replace -9 by -10+1<BR>\n" );
document.write( "---<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x^2-9x-5 can be written as<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x^2-10x+x-5<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Factor the 1st 2 and the last 2 terms separately:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2x(x-5) + (x-5)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Factor again to get:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(x-5)(2x+1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "----<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Final answer: 3(x-5)(2x+1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "===============================<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "stan H. </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );