SOLUTION: how do you factor this 3x to the second power + 24x + 48

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Question 409660: how do you factor this 3x to the second power + 24x + 48
Answer by MathLover1(20850) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

3x%5E2+%2B+24x+%2B+48........factor out common 3
3%28x%5E2+%2B+8x+%2B+18%29
3%28x%5E2+%2B+8x+%2B+18%29.....let see if we can factor %28x%5E2+%2B+8x+%2B+18%29
Solved by pluggable solver: Factoring using the AC method (Factor by Grouping)


Looking at the expression x%5E2%2B8x%2B18, we can see that the first coefficient is 1, the second coefficient is 8, and the last term is 18.



Now multiply the first coefficient 1 by the last term 18 to get %281%29%2818%29=18.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to 18 (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient 8?



To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of 18 (the previous product).



Factors of 18:

1,2,3,6,9,18

-1,-2,-3,-6,-9,-18



Note: list the negative of each factor. This will allow us to find all possible combinations.



These factors pair up and multiply to 18.

1*18 = 18
2*9 = 18
3*6 = 18
(-1)*(-18) = 18
(-2)*(-9) = 18
(-3)*(-6) = 18


Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient 8:



First NumberSecond NumberSum
1181+18=19
292+9=11
363+6=9
-1-18-1+(-18)=-19
-2-9-2+(-9)=-11
-3-6-3+(-6)=-9




From the table, we can see that there are no pairs of numbers which add to 8. So x%5E2%2B8x%2B18 cannot be factored.



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Answer:



So x%5E2%2B8%2Ax%2B18 doesn't factor at all (over the rational numbers).



So x%5E2%2B8%2Ax%2B18 is prime.




so, since %28x%5E2+%2B+8x+%2B+18%29 cannot be factored, all you can do is 3%28x%5E2+%2B+8x+%2B+18%29