document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=887396>Question 887396</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> This is a problem I came across online: Factor the expression below completely. All coefficients should be integers: 2x^2-4x-16. My answer was (2x+4)(x-4) which it said was wrong. The correct answer was 2(x-4)(x+2). Is my answer also correct, or is it not considered completely factored? I was under the impression that either way was correct, and just a matter of preference. Thanks </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #536590 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><B>jim_thompson5910(35256)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=jim_thompson5910><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=536590\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You factored it correctly, but not fully. You can factor 2x+4 to get 2(x+2)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "So (2x+4)(x-4) turns into 2(x+2)(x-4)\r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "<BR>\n" );
document.write( "\n" );
document.write( "The order of the factors does not matter and this is the same as 2(x-4)(x+2) </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );