SOLUTION: how do I factor 2a^2+1+3a

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Question 862126: how do I factor 2a^2+1+3a
Answer by josgarithmetic(39628) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
All three terms show addition operation, and no negative sign nor subtraction found. Arrange as 2a%5E2%2B3a%2B1. One obvious binomial factor combination is.

%282a%2B1%29%28a%2B1%29.
Can you think of any other combination? You want the leading terms of each binomial to give product of 2a%5E2, and you want the constant terms of the binomials to have product of 1. You want to check to see that the resulting terms of a will sum to 3a. Certainly they do.