SOLUTION: help!!!!!!!!! how can you factor 3x-12x^3??? any help would be appreciated thanks

Algebra ->  Polynomials-and-rational-expressions -> SOLUTION: help!!!!!!!!! how can you factor 3x-12x^3??? any help would be appreciated thanks      Log On


   



Question 7765: help!!!!!!!!!
how can you factor
3x-12x^3???
any help would be appreciated
thanks

Answer by Earlsdon(6294) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
Factor: 3x+-+12x%5E3
First factor 3x:
3x%281+-+4x%5E2%29 Notice that you now have, in the parentheses, a difference of two squares which can be factored: %28a%5E2+-+b%5E2%29+=+%28a%2Bb%29%28a-B%29, so:
3x%281+-+4x%5E2%29+=+3x%281%2B2x%29%281-2x%29 Finally you have:
3x+-+12x%5E3+=+3x%281+%2B+2x%29%281+-2x%29