document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=707140>Question 707140</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Am trying to help my God daughter: She's having issues with a problem that I do not understand or remember.  Hope you can help with steps such as what is the q mean, know some algebra but the factoring is what's stumping me.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Thank you.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "15q^3 power + 40q^2 power + 3q + 8 . </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #435538 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Stitch><B>Stitch(470)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-10.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=Stitch><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=435538\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Given: <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=15q%5E3+%2B+40q%5E2+%2B+3q+%2B+8 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"15q%5E3+%2B+40q%5E2+%2B+3q+%2B+8\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "In that equation the q is just a variable. It can be replaced by any other letter and still mean the same thing.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "You did not mention what you were solving for so I will just factored the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "For an equation that goes to the third power, it is usually easier (in my opinion) to group the equation and find the greatest common factor.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "For example, group the first two terms and then group the second two terms.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%2815q%5E3+%2B+40q%5E2%29+%2B+%283q+%2B+8%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%2815q%5E3+%2B+40q%5E2%29+%2B+%283q+%2B+8%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "The greatest common factor of the first two terms is 5q^2<BR>\n" );
document.write( "The second two terms do not have a common factor and will stay as is.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Rewrite the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=5q%5E2%2A%283q+%2B+8%29+%2B+%283q+%2B+8%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"5q%5E2%2A%283q+%2B+8%29+%2B+%283q+%2B+8%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "Notice that both parts now contain a (3q + 8). You can factor that out and rewrite the equation.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%283q+%2B+8%29%2A%285q%5E2+%2B+1%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%283q+%2B+8%29%2A%285q%5E2+%2B+1%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "I hope that helps. </SPAN>\n" );
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