You can
put this solution on YOUR website! Use the ac test to determine which of the following trinomials can be factored.
Find the values of m and n for each trinomial that can be factored.
x(squared) - 3x +7
thanks
Example 1 (your example):
1x² - 3x + 7
Multiply the 1 by the 7
That gives 7.
Now ask "Can you think of two positive integers that have product 7 and
SUM 3?" (It's "SUM" because the last sign is +)
The answer is no.
So it CANNOT be factored.
Example 2:
1x² + 4x - 21
Multiply the 1 by the 21
That gives 21.
Now ask "Can you think of two positive integers that have product 21 and
DIFFERENCE 4?" (It's "DIFFERENCE" because the last sign is -)
The answer is yes, because 7·3 = 21 and 7-3=4
So it CAN be factored.
Example 3:
2x² - 7x + 6
Multiply the 2 by the 6
That gives 12.
Now ask "Can you think of two positive integers that have product 12 and
SUM 7?" (It's "SUM" because the last sign is +)
The answer is yes, because 4×3=12 and 4+3=7
So it CAN be factored.
Example 4
16x² - 8x + 1
Multiply the 16 by the 1
That gives 16.
Now ask "Can you think of two positive integers that have product 16 and
SUM 8?" (It's "SUM" because the last sign is +)
The answer is yes, because 4·4 = 21 and 4+4=8
So it CAN be factored.
Example 5
16x² - 8x - 1
Multiply the 16 by the 1
That gives 16.
Now ask "Can you think of two positive integers that have product 16 and
DIFFERENCE 8?" (It's "DIFFERENCE" because the last sign is +)
The answer is no.
So it CANNOT be factored.
Edwin
