SOLUTION: Please help me factor this-please show me the steps 3x^2 + 2x - 16

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Question 36220: Please help me factor this-please show me the steps
3x^2 + 2x - 16
Answer by benni1013(206) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
3x^2+2x-16
First: Take the first times the third coefficients.
Answer: -48
Second: Ask the question what factors of -48 equals positive 2
Answer: 8, -6
Third: Separate the middle terms
3x^2-6x+8x-16
Fourth: Factor using GCF
3x(x-2)+8(x-2)
Important: At this point the quantities inside the parentheses must be the same.
Fifth: The quantity inside the parentheses is your first binomial and outside the parentheses is your second but the quantity inside the parentheses must be the same
Final Answer: (3x+8)(x-2)