How do you factor the trinomial 3x^2-15x+16?

1 Answer
Mar 7, 2016

Factors are 3(x-(15+sqrt33)/6)(x-(15-sqrt33)/6)

Explanation:

To factorize ax^2+bx+c, one needs to first check about discriminant b^2-4ac, which in 3x^2−15x+16 is (-15)^2-4xx3xx16=225-192=33. As it is not the square of a rational number, we will not have binomials with rational coefficients as factors.

Hence, to find factors let us solve the equation 3x^2−15x+16=0 using quadratic formula which gives solution of ax^2+bx+c=0
as x=(-b+-sqrt(b^2-4ac))/(2a).

Hence solution of 3x^2−15x+16=0 is x=(-(-15)+-sqrt((-15)^2-4xx3xx16))/(2xx3) or

x=(15+-sqrt33)/6

Hence factors are 3(x-(15+sqrt33)/6)(x-(15-sqrt33)/6)

We have multiplied by 3 as coefficient of x^2 is 3.