How do you factor #3x^2 -4x +1#?

1 Answer
May 25, 2018

#(x-1)(3x-1)#

Explanation:

#"using the a-c method to factor the quadratic"#

#"the factors of the product "3xx1=3#

#"which sum to - 4 are - 3 and - 1"#

#"split the middle term using these factors"#

#3x^2-3x-x+1larrcolor(blue)"factor by grouping"#

#=color(red)(3x)(x-1)color(red)(-1)(x-1)#

#"take out the "color(blue)"common factor "(x-1)#

#=(x-1)(color(red)(3x-1))#

#3x^2-4x+1=(x-1)(3x-1)#