document.write( "Question 103520: Could someone please remind me how to solve this equation. Factor completely.
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Algebra.Com's Answer #75258 by oberobic(2304)![]() ![]() ![]() You can put this solution on YOUR website! You can approach this by trial and error. First, consider what the factors of 15 are: either 3*5 or 1*15. The factors of 16 are either 4*4 or 2*8 or 1*16. So, you will have factoring like: \n" ); document.write( "(3x +/- 2)(5x +/- 8) \n" ); document.write( "(3x +/- 4)(5x +/- 4) \n" ); document.write( "etc. \n" ); document.write( "Note that the -16 tells us that one of the factors has a + and the other has a -. Also, we know that the +x's will out number the -x's by 8 (i.e., the middle term is +8x. \n" ); document.write( "By trial and error: \n" ); document.write( "(3x + 4)(5x - 4) = 15x^2 - 12x + 20x - 16 = 15x^2 + 8x - 16. \n" ); document.write( "Well, what luck! Found it on the first try! \n" ); document.write( "The factors are (3x+4)(5x-4). \n" ); document.write( " |