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Example 7.36 from Elementary Algebra, 7.3 Factor Quadratic Trinomials with Leading Coefficient Other than 1
Factor completely: .
Work it out on paper first. Then open the solution one step at a time, and stop as soon as you can finish on your own.
| The trinomial is already in descending order. | |
| Find the factors of the first term. | |
| Find the factors of the last term. Consider the signs. Since 15 is positive and the coefficient of the middle term is negative, we use the negative facotrs. |
Consider all the combinations of factors.
The book's Try It right after this example: same idea, new numbers. Only the answer is given.
Factor completely: .
How did it go?