SOLUTION: Factor: 56b^2 + 23b -63

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Question 483522: Factor: 56b^2 + 23b -63
Answer by jim_thompson5910(35256) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!

Looking at the expression 56b%5E2%2B23b-63, we can see that the first coefficient is 56, the second coefficient is 23, and the last term is -63.


Now multiply the first coefficient 56 by the last term -63 to get %2856%29%28-63%29=-3528.


Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to -3528 (the previous product) and add to the second coefficient 23?


To find these two numbers, we need to list all of the factors of -3528 (the previous product).


Factors of -3528:
1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9,12,14,18,21,24,28,36,42,49,56,63,72,84,98,126,147,168,196,252,294,392,441,504,588,882,1176,1764,3528
-1,-2,-3,-4,-6,-7,-8,-9,-12,-14,-18,-21,-24,-28,-36,-42,-49,-56,-63,-72,-84,-98,-126,-147,-168,-196,-252,-294,-392,-441,-504,-588,-882,-1176,-1764,-3528


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


These factors pair up and multiply to -3528.
1*(-3528) = -3528
2*(-1764) = -3528
3*(-1176) = -3528
4*(-882) = -3528
6*(-588) = -3528
7*(-504) = -3528
8*(-441) = -3528
9*(-392) = -3528
12*(-294) = -3528
14*(-252) = -3528
18*(-196) = -3528
21*(-168) = -3528
24*(-147) = -3528
28*(-126) = -3528
36*(-98) = -3528
42*(-84) = -3528
49*(-72) = -3528
56*(-63) = -3528
(-1)*(3528) = -3528
(-2)*(1764) = -3528
(-3)*(1176) = -3528
(-4)*(882) = -3528
(-6)*(588) = -3528
(-7)*(504) = -3528
(-8)*(441) = -3528
(-9)*(392) = -3528
(-12)*(294) = -3528
(-14)*(252) = -3528
(-18)*(196) = -3528
(-21)*(168) = -3528
(-24)*(147) = -3528
(-28)*(126) = -3528
(-36)*(98) = -3528
(-42)*(84) = -3528
(-49)*(72) = -3528
(-56)*(63) = -3528

Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient 23:


First NumberSecond NumberSum
1-35281+(-3528)=-3527
2-17642+(-1764)=-1762
3-11763+(-1176)=-1173
4-8824+(-882)=-878
6-5886+(-588)=-582
7-5047+(-504)=-497
8-4418+(-441)=-433
9-3929+(-392)=-383
12-29412+(-294)=-282
14-25214+(-252)=-238
18-19618+(-196)=-178
21-16821+(-168)=-147
24-14724+(-147)=-123
28-12628+(-126)=-98
36-9836+(-98)=-62
42-8442+(-84)=-42
49-7249+(-72)=-23
56-6356+(-63)=-7
-13528-1+3528=3527
-21764-2+1764=1762
-31176-3+1176=1173
-4882-4+882=878
-6588-6+588=582
-7504-7+504=497
-8441-8+441=433
-9392-9+392=383
-12294-12+294=282
-14252-14+252=238
-18196-18+196=178
-21168-21+168=147
-24147-24+147=123
-28126-28+126=98
-3698-36+98=62
-4284-42+84=42
-4972-49+72=23
-5663-56+63=7



From the table, we can see that the two numbers -49 and 72 add to 23 (the middle coefficient).


So the two numbers -49 and 72 both multiply to -3528 and add to 23


Now replace the middle term 23b with -49b%2B72b. Remember, -49 and 72 add to 23. So this shows us that -49b%2B72b=23b.


56b%5E2%2Bhighlight%28-49b%2B72b%29-63 Replace the second term 23b with -49b%2B72b.


%2856b%5E2-49b%29%2B%2872b-63%29 Group the terms into two pairs.


7b%288b-7%29%2B%2872b-63%29 Factor out the GCF 7b from the first group.


7b%288b-7%29%2B9%288b-7%29 Factor out 9 from the second group. The goal of this step is to make the terms in the second parenthesis equal to the terms in the first parenthesis.


%287b%2B9%29%288b-7%29 Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term 8b-7


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Answer:


So 56b%5E2%2B23b-63 factors to %287b%2B9%29%288b-7%29.


In other words, 56b%5E2%2B23b-63=%287b%2B9%29%288b-7%29.


Note: you can check the answer by expanding %287b%2B9%29%288b-7%29 to get 56b%5E2%2B23b-63 or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).