8x^2-14x+38x214x+3? I dont understand how to solve this using factoring grouping?

8x^2-14x+38x214x+3

1 Answer
Mar 8, 2017

Please see below.

Explanation:

It is important to know that when you try to factorize a quadratic polynomial say ax^2+bx+cax2+bx+c by grouping,

  1. Remember you can do it, only if the determinant b^2-4acb24ac is a complete square of a number . This is generally not a big deal as generally in problems where factoring by grouping is desired, this is ensured. However, if you are unable to do this you can check for this. Here in 8x^2-14x+38x214x+3, we have a=8a=8, b=-14b=14 and c=3c=3. Hence b^2-4ac=(-14)^2-4xx8xx3=196-96=100=10^2b24ac=(14)24×8×3=19696=100=102 and you can factorize the given polynomial by grouping.

  2. Now you have to split bb in two parts, whose sum is bb and product is axxca×c. Here to make things easier look at the signs of aa and cc . If they are same, look at their sum equal to bb and if signs are different, look at their difference equal to bb.
    Here, signs of a=8a=8 and b=3b=3 are same, as they are bot positive (an example of different signs given below), hence find two numbers whose sum is 1414 and product is 8xx3=248×3=24.

  3. For making things easier, particularly when axxca×c is a large number, list factors as shown here ((1,24),(2,12),(3,8),(4,6)) and we end here as the factors are getting repeated there after. Here sum of 2 and 12 is equal to 14, hence split accordingly.

Now 8x^2-14x+3

= 8x^2-2x-12x+3

= 2x(4x-1)-3(4x-1)

= (2x-3)(4x-1)

Had the polynomial been 8x^2-5x-3, as signs of a and c are opposite, and difference is desired to be 5, we should have chosen 3 and8 and factors would have been

8x^2-5x-3

= 8x^2-8x+3x-3

= 8x(x-1)+3(x-1)

= (8x+3)(x-1)