Identify a, b, c: Identify a, b, and c in the trinomial 3x2+7x+2. Compare 3x2+7x+2 with ax2+bx+c. a=3b0b1
Find two numbers: Find two numbers whose product is a∗c (3∗2=6) and whose sum is b (7).We need to find two numbers that multiply to 6 and add up to 7.The numbers 6 and 1 satisfy these conditions because:6∗1=66+1=7
Rewrite middle term: Rewrite the middle term 7x using the two numbers found in Step 2.We can express 7x as 6x+x.So, the trinomial 3x2+7x+2 can be rewritten as 3x2+6x+x+2.
Factor by grouping: Factor by grouping.Group the terms into two pairs: (3x2+6x) and (x+2).Factor out the common factor from each pair.From the first pair, we can factor out 3x: 3x(x+2).From the second pair, we can factor out 1: 1(x+2).Now we have 3x(x+2)+1(x+2).
Factor out common binomial: Factor out the common binomial factor (x+2).We can now factor out (x+2) from both terms.The factored form is (x+2)(3x+1).