document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=839487>Question 839487</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Could you please help me solve the following problem:\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Factor these three examples completely. Remember to check for common factors first. Some questions will require two types of factoring.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "a) 2a^2 - 5a - 3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "b) 4(x + y) - 3m(x + y)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "c) 2a^2 + 24a + 40\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "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 #505747 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><B>josgarithmetic(39617)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=josgarithmetic><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=505747\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> Part (a) appears to be the only troubling one.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Try this:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282a%2B-+what%29%28a%2B-+whatelse%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282a%2B-+what%29%28a%2B-+whatelse%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "You want to find combinations of \"what\" and \"whatelse\" which will give product of -3 and after doing the binomial multiplications gives sum of -5.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Try 1, -3:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=%282a%2B1%29%28a-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"%282a%2B1%29%28a-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >---<--------This is the answer, factored.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=2a%5E2%2Ba-6a-3 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"2a%5E2%2Ba-6a-3\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" ><BR>\n" );
document.write( "<IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight_green%282a%5E2-5a-3%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight_green%282a%5E2-5a-3%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" > ----- the given expression to be factored.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "GOOD.  This one works.<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Answer:  <IMG STYLE=\"max-width:80%;\" SRC=/cgi-bin/plot-formula.mpl?expression=highlight%28%282a%2B1%29%28a-3%29%29 ALIGN=MIDDLE  ALT=\"highlight%28%282a%2B1%29%28a-3%29%29\"   DISABLED_style= \"max-width:90%; height:auto;\" >\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "What happens if you tried the other combinations...\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Try -1, 3:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2a-1)(a+3)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a^2-1a+6a-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a^2+5a-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "No good.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Try 3, -1:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2a+3)(a-1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a^2+3a-2a-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a^2+a-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "No good.\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "Try -3, 1:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(2a-3)(a+1)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a^2-3a+2a-3<BR>\n" );
document.write( "2a^2-a-3 </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );