document.write( "<A HREF=/cgi-bin/jump-to-question.mpl?question=107867>Question 107867</A>: <I><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> This is for Introductory Algebra (College).  Instructions are to FACTOR BY GROUPING.  My instructor said to \"arbitrarily change a positive to a negative if necessary to get the correct answer\".  That just doesn't make sense to me.  I have a tendency to over-think things and I really want to know why and how I get to the correct answer.  Is it really possible to just randomly make things up in math????? <BR>\n" );
document.write( "I will show my work.  Thank you in advance for any help you can give as you will likely be keeping me out of a straight-jacket at this point!\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "original problem to be factored by grouping: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "p^2-2p-3rp+6r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "my work:  <BR>\n" );
document.write( "(p^2-2p)-1(3rp+6r)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(p^2-2p)+(-3rp-6r)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "p(p-2) -3r(p+2)  OR  p(p-2) +3r(-p-2)  (THIS IS WHERE IT GOES DOWNHILL!!)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(?????)(p-3r) ... Final Answer is SUPPOSED to be (p-2)(p-3r)\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Obviously I will never get that as an answer at the rate I am going.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Again, thank you for any possible help.\r<BR>\n" );
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document.write( " </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</I><HR><TABLE width=100%><TR><TD><B><A HREF=http://www.algebra.com/>Algebra.Com's</A> Answer #78626 by </B><A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><B>stanbon(75887)</B></A><img src=\"/images/stars/stars-13.gif\" alt=\"\" >&nbsp;<A HREF=/tutors/aboutme.mpl?userid=stanbon><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=78626\">put this solution on YOUR website!</A><BR><SPAN STYLE=\"word-break: break-all;\"> You are right; there are options at times but<BR>\n" );
document.write( "not arbitraries.<BR>\n" );
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document.write( "Your problem:<BR>\n" );
document.write( "original problem to be factored by grouping: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "p^2-2p-3rp+6r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "original problem to be factored by grouping: <BR>\n" );
document.write( "p^2-2p-3rp+6r<BR>\n" );
document.write( "p(p-2) -3r(p-2)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "(p-2)(p-3r)<BR>\n" );
document.write( "==============<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Cheers,<BR>\n" );
document.write( "Stan </SPAN>\n" );
document.write( "</TD></TR></TABLE>\n" );