Question 387339
{{{20b^2+100bt+125t^2}}} Start with the given expression.



{{{5(4b^2+20bt+25t^2)}}} Factor out the GCF {{{5}}}.



Now let's try to factor the inner expression {{{4b^2+20bt+25t^2}}}



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Looking at the expression {{{4b^2+20bt+25t^2}}}, we can see that the first coefficient is {{{4}}}, the second coefficient is {{{20}}}, and the last coefficient is {{{25}}}.



Now multiply the first coefficient {{{4}}} by the last coefficient {{{25}}} to get {{{(4)(25)=100}}}.



Now the question is: what two whole numbers multiply to {{{100}}} (the previous product) <font size=4><b>and</b></font> add to the second coefficient {{{20}}}?



To find these two numbers, we need to list <font size=4><b>all</b></font> of the factors of {{{100}}} (the previous product).



Factors of {{{100}}}:

1,2,4,5,10,20,25,50,100

-1,-2,-4,-5,-10,-20,-25,-50,-100



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



These factors pair up and multiply to {{{100}}}.

1*100 = 100
2*50 = 100
4*25 = 100
5*20 = 100
10*10 = 100
(-1)*(-100) = 100
(-2)*(-50) = 100
(-4)*(-25) = 100
(-5)*(-20) = 100
(-10)*(-10) = 100


Now let's add up each pair of factors to see if one pair adds to the middle coefficient {{{20}}}:



<table border="1"><th>First Number</th><th>Second Number</th><th>Sum</th><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>1</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>100</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>1+100=101</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>2</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>50</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>2+50=52</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>4</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>25</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>4+25=29</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>5</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>20</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>5+20=25</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=red>10</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=red>10</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=red>10+10=20</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>-1</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-100</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-1+(-100)=-101</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>-2</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-50</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-2+(-50)=-52</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>-4</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-25</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-4+(-25)=-29</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>-5</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-20</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-5+(-20)=-25</font></td></tr><tr><td  align="center"><font color=black>-10</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-10</font></td><td  align="center"><font color=black>-10+(-10)=-20</font></td></tr></table>



From the table, we can see that the two numbers {{{10}}} and {{{10}}} add to {{{20}}} (the middle coefficient).



So the two numbers {{{10}}} and {{{10}}} both multiply to {{{100}}} <font size=4><b>and</b></font> add to {{{20}}}



Now replace the middle term {{{20bt}}} with {{{10bt+10bt}}}. Remember, {{{10}}} and {{{10}}} add to {{{20}}}. So this shows us that {{{10bt+10bt=20bt}}}.



{{{4b^2+highlight(10bt+10bt)+25t^2}}} Replace the second term {{{20bt}}} with {{{10bt+10bt}}}.



{{{(4b^2+10bt)+(10bt+25t^2)}}} Group the terms into two pairs.



{{{2b(2b+5t)+(10bt+25t^2)}}} Factor out the GCF {{{2b}}} from the first group.



{{{2b(2b+5t)+5t(2b+5t)}}} Factor out {{{5t}}} 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.



{{{(2b+5t)(2b+5t)}}} Combine like terms. Or factor out the common term {{{2b+5t}}}



{{{(2b+5t)^2}}} Condense the terms.



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So {{{5(4b^2+20bt+25t^2)}}} then factors further to {{{5(2b+5t)^2}}}



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Answer:



So {{{20b^2+100bt+125t^2}}} completely factors to {{{5(2b+5t)^2}}}.



In other words, {{{20b^2+100bt+125t^2=5(2b+5t)^2}}}.



Note: you can check the answer by expanding {{{5(2b+5t)^2}}} to get {{{20b^2+100bt+125t^2}}} or by graphing the original expression and the answer (the two graphs should be identical).



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Jim