Question 823788: Please help me factor this:
The book says
=
=
In the first line, I understand how and are factored, but what is really confusing me is how are factored. The lines following I also understand.
Thanks. Answer by jsmallt9(3758) (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
I think it will be easier to understand if we simplify a little before factoring. The first term. , can simplify a little if we multiply the , the 4 and the 2x together:
Now we can factor a 4 from the 8 and the 4, a from the and the , and a from the and the :
Now we just simplify the second factor: