SOLUTION: Factor 2x^2y^3 + 3xy^2 - 5xy

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Question 168806: Factor 2x^2y^3 + 3xy^2 - 5xy
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

2x%5E2y%5E3%2B3xy%5E2-5xy Start with the given expression


xy%282xy%5E2%2B3y-5%29 Factor out the GCF xy


Now let's focus on the inner expression 2xy%5E2%2B3y-5




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Looking at 2xy%5E2%2B3y-5 we can see that the first term is 2xy%5E2 and the last term is -5 where the coefficients are 2 and -5 respectively.

Now multiply the first coefficient 2 and the last coefficient -5 to get -10. Now what two numbers multiply to -10 and add to the middle coefficient 3? Let's list all of the factors of -10:



Factors of -10:
1,2,5,10

-1,-2,-5,-10 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations

These factors pair up and multiply to -10
(1)*(-10)
(2)*(-5)
(-1)*(10)
(-2)*(5)

note: remember, the product of a negative and a positive number is a negative number


Now which of these pairs add to 3? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to 3

First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-101+(-10)=-9
2-52+(-5)=-3
-110-1+10=9
-25-2+5=3



From this list we can see that -2 and 5 add up to 3 and multiply to -10


Now looking at the expression 2xy%5E2%2B3y-5, replace 3y with -2y%2B5y (notice -2y%2B5y adds up to 3y. So it is equivalent to 3y)

2xy%5E2%2Bhighlight%28-2y%2B5y%29%2B-5


Now let's factor 2xy%5E2-2y%2B5y-5 by grouping:


%282xy%5E2-2y%29%2B%285y-5%29 Group like terms


2y%28xy-1%29%2B5%28y-1%29 Factor out the GCF of 2y out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of 5 out of the second group


So this also means that 2xy%5E2%2B3y-5 factors to %282y%2B5%29%28xy-1%29 (since 2xy%5E2%2B3y-5 is equivalent to 2xy%5E2-2y%2B5y-5)



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So our expression goes from xy%282xy%5E2%2B3y-5%29 and factors further to xy%282y%2B5%29%28xy-1%29


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Answer:

So 2x%5E2y%5E3%2B3xy%5E2-5xy factors to xy%282y%2B5%29%28xy-1%29