document.write( "Question 1131353: The volume of a rectangular box is found by multiplying its length, width, and
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Algebra.Com's Answer #748003 by Edwin McCravy(20056)\"\" \"About 
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
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document.write( "b³+3b²-4b-12\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor by grouping\r\n" );
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document.write( "Group the first two terms: b³+3b² factors as b²(b+3)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor the last two terms: -4b-12 factors as -4(b+3)\r\n" );
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document.write( "So b³+3b²-4b-12 equals b²(b+3)-4(b+3)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Take out the common factor (b+3) and get (b+3)(b²-4)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Factor the second parentheses as the difference of \r\n" );
document.write( "squares (b-2)(b+2), which means that\r\n" );
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document.write( "b³+3b²-4b-12 equals (b+3)(b-2)(b+2)\r\n" );
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document.write( "Therefore the dimensions are b+3, b-2, and b+2 where b > 2\r\n" );
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document.write( "Since these three factors are the dimensions of a box, they \r\n" );
document.write( "cannot be negative.  So b must be greater than 2 to prevent \r\n" );
document.write( "b-2 from being negative.\r\n" );
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document.write( "Edwin
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