Question 407821:  I am needing help please. 
 
Completly factor the expression and show all work: 
 
245x^3-420x^2y+180xy^2 
 Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256)      (Show Source): 
You can  put this solution on YOUR website! 
 
  Start with the given expression
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF  
 
 
 
Now let's focus on the inner expression  
 
 
 
 
 
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Looking at   we can see that the first term is   and the last term is   where the coefficients are 49 and 36 respectively.
 
 
Now multiply the first coefficient 49 and the last coefficient 36 to get 1764. Now what two numbers multiply to 1764 and add to the  middle coefficient -84? Let's list all of the factors of 1764:
 
 
 
 
Factors of 1764:
 
1,2,3,4,6,7,9,12,14,18,21,28,36,42,49,63,84,98,126,147,196,252,294,441,588,882
 
 
-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-7,-9,-12,-14,-18,-21,-28,-36,-42,-49,-63,-84,-98,-126,-147,-196,-252,-294,-441,-588,-882 ...List the negative factors as well. This will allow us to find all possible combinations
 
 
These factors pair up and multiply to 1764
 
1*1764
 
2*882
 
3*588
 
4*441
 
6*294
 
7*252
 
9*196
 
12*147
 
14*126
 
18*98
 
21*84
 
28*63
 
36*49
 
42*42
 
(-1)*(-1764)
 
(-2)*(-882)
 
(-3)*(-588)
 
(-4)*(-441)
 
(-6)*(-294)
 
(-7)*(-252)
 
(-9)*(-196)
 
(-12)*(-147)
 
(-14)*(-126)
 
(-18)*(-98)
 
(-21)*(-84)
 
(-28)*(-63)
 
(-36)*(-49)
 
(-42)*(-42)
 
 
note: remember two negative numbers multiplied together make a positive number
 
 
 
Now which of these pairs add to -84? Lets make a table of all of the pairs of factors we multiplied and see which two numbers add to -84
 
 
| First Number | Second Number | Sum | | 1 | 1764 | 1+1764=1765 |  | 2 | 882 | 2+882=884 |  | 3 | 588 | 3+588=591 |  | 4 | 441 | 4+441=445 |  | 6 | 294 | 6+294=300 |  | 7 | 252 | 7+252=259 |  | 9 | 196 | 9+196=205 |  | 12 | 147 | 12+147=159 |  | 14 | 126 | 14+126=140 |  | 18 | 98 | 18+98=116 |  | 21 | 84 | 21+84=105 |  | 28 | 63 | 28+63=91 |  | 36 | 49 | 36+49=85 |  | 42 | 42 | 42+42=84 |  | -1 | -1764 | -1+(-1764)=-1765 |  | -2 | -882 | -2+(-882)=-884 |  | -3 | -588 | -3+(-588)=-591 |  | -4 | -441 | -4+(-441)=-445 |  | -6 | -294 | -6+(-294)=-300 |  | -7 | -252 | -7+(-252)=-259 |  | -9 | -196 | -9+(-196)=-205 |  | -12 | -147 | -12+(-147)=-159 |  | -14 | -126 | -14+(-126)=-140 |  | -18 | -98 | -18+(-98)=-116 |  | -21 | -84 | -21+(-84)=-105 |  | -28 | -63 | -28+(-63)=-91 |  | -36 | -49 | -36+(-49)=-85 |  | -42 | -42 | -42+(-42)=-84 |  
 
 
 
 
From this list we can see that -42 and -42 add up to -84 and multiply to 1764
 
 
 
Now looking at the expression  , replace   with   (notice   adds up to  . So it is equivalent to  )
 
 
 
 
 
 
Now let's factor   by grouping:
 
 
 
  Group like terms
 
 
 
  Factor out the GCF of   out of the first group. Factor out the GCF of   out of the second group
 
 
 
  Since we have a common term of  , we can combine like terms
 
 
So   factors to  
 
 
 
So this also means that   factors to   (since   is equivalent to  )
 
 
 
note:    is equivalent to    since the term   occurs twice. So   also factors to  
 
 
 
 
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So our expression goes from   and factors further to  
 
 
 
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Answer:
 
 
So   factors to  
 
    
 
If you need more help, email me at jim_thompson5910@hotmail.com
 
 
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Jim 
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