How do you factor #5x^2 - 17x+ 6#?
1 Answer
Mar 6, 2016
Explanation:
Open two sets of brackets.
The factors of
Multiply the first and last coefficients, 5 x 6= 30. The factors of +30 are: +1, +30; +2, +15; +3, +10; +5, +6; -5, -6; -3, -10; -2, -15; and -1, -30.
Add each of these. The sum of -2, -15 is -17, the middle coefficient, so these are the right ones.
But you started by multiplying by 5, so now you must divide by 5, which goes into the -15, leaving the factor as -3.