Factoring Math Example 1

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Example 1

easy
Factor x2+7x+12x^2 + 7x + 12.

Solution

  1. 1
    Find two numbers that multiply to 12 and add to 7: those are 3 and 4.
  2. 2
    Write the factored form: (x+3)(x+4)(x + 3)(x + 4).
  3. 3
    Check by expanding: x2+4x+3x+12=x2+7x+12x^2 + 4x + 3x + 12 = x^2 + 7x + 12 ✓

Answer

(x+3)(x+4)(x + 3)(x + 4)
To factor x2+bx+cx^2 + bx + c, find two numbers pp and qq such that p+q=bp + q = b and p⋅q=cp \cdot q = c. Then the factorization is (x+p)(x+q)(x + p)(x + q).

About Factoring

Rewriting an algebraic expression as a product of two or more simpler expressions that multiply to give the original.

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More Factoring Examples

Example 2 medium

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Example 3 easy

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Example 4 medium

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