document.write( "Question 1149076: Factor completely 3x^2 − 5x − 2 = 0 \n" ); document.write( "

Algebra.Com's Answer #770401 by greenestamps(13203) $\"\"$ $\"About$

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\n" ); document.write( "(1) The constant term is negative, so the signs in the two factors are opposite (one +, one -): (ax+b)(cx-d)

\n" ); document.write( "(2) The product ac is 3. There are only 2 possibilities -- 3 and 1, or 1 and 3.

\n" ); document.write( "(3) The product bd is 2. There are only 2 possibilities -- 2 and 1, or 1 and 2.

\n" ); document.write( "That makes 2*2 = 4 possibilities for the correct factorization. Try them all and see which gives the correct middle term.

\n" ); document.write( " $\"%283x%2B2%29%28x-1%29\"$ ?
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%283x%2B1%29%28x-2%29\"$ ?
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2B2%29%283x-1%29\"$ ?
\n" ); document.write( " $\"%28x%2B1%29%283x-2%29\"$ ?

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